China is accelerating patent approvals to boost the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP)'s global competitiveness, said the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) on Friday.
Intellectual property protection has become a key measure of the port's business environment, with CNIPA reporting a sharp rise in invention patent authorizations in Hainan. CNIPA deputy head Rui Wenbiao told a Beijing press conference the move aims to strengthen the region's international edge.
"We have established national-level intellectual property protection centers in Haikou and Sanya, and set up a green channel covering key sectors such as the seed industry, deep-sea technology, and biomedicine for rapid pre-examination, rapid confirmation of rights, and rapid rights protection. The average speed of invention patent authorization has been accelerated by more than 80 percent," said Rui.
Rui highlighted that eight national-level intellectual property public service institutions were established in the Hainan FTP, serving innovation entities a total of 15,000 times last year, and an inventory of existing patents from 31 universities and research institutions across the province was completed.
"Next, we will further focus on enhancing the international competitiveness of the Hainan FTZ, actively align with international trade and economic rules, and support Hainan to pioneer in areas such as cross-border e-commerce intellectual property governance and cross-border intellectual property transfer," he said.
The Hainan FTP is by far the largest free trade port globally by geographical area. China on Dec 18 last year launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan FTP, allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanded zero-tariff coverage and more business-friendly measures.
China accelerates patent approvals to boost Hainan Free Trade Port
