In order to encourage domestic applicants to file patent applications abroad, since 2009, the Ministry of Finance started to grant special government funding to applicants who file patent applications in foreign countries. The fund was regulated under the Provisional Measures for the Administration of Special Government Funding for Foreign patent Filing (hereinafter refers to as the Provisional Measures). On the basis of 3 years implementation, the MOF amended the Provisional Measures to intensify the management of financial funding and make better use of government funding.
According to the revised Provisional Measures, the special government funding is mainly used for domestic applicants to subsidize patent applicants in the filing stage and grant stage. Fees to be granted include the prescribed fees, the search fees paid to the searching authority, and service fees paid to patent agencies.
The special government funding is mainly provided for high-technologies and emerging industries which comply with the national IP strategy and can improve the independent innovative abilities.
