Source: China IP News
Profound changes are happening to the global economic landscape and innovation map while the global intellectual property (IP) system is embracing numerous new opportunities and challenges. One partner being the main platform for international IP norm-setting activities, the other being one of the most robust IP engines in the world – What sparks can be lit up when the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and China remain committed to the prosperous development of the global IP and innovation ecosystem? With all these questions in mind, our China Intellectual Property News (CIPN) reporter interviewed WIPO Director General Daren Tang during the 20th Shanghai International Intellectual Property Forum (SIIPF).
"Over the past 50 years, China has totally transformed its IP and innovation ecosystem, becoming the largest contributor to global IP. China now files more IP than the rest of the world combined, serving as testament to the importance that the Chinese government pays to IP," Tang outlined.
According to the WIPO-published Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023, Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai-Suzhou clusters rank 2nd, 4th, and 5th respectively in the global top 100 science and technology (S&T) clusters. China's continued high-flying performance showcases the country's palpable upgrade in IP comprehensive strength and S&T innovation power.
"We want to bring IP down to the grassroots so that those benefiting from IP are not just big enterprises in advanced, industrialized countries, but those innovators and creators at the grassroots level, especially in developing countries," Tang believed that Chinese enterprises are becoming more and more innovative and enterprising. They do not just look at IP as a form of registration or a legal right, but using IP to grow their business, which is very good for the Chinese economy. "Because as China pushes toward science, technology and innovation to grow its economy, IP is very important for the strategy," Tang elaborated.
Tang mentioned particularly that in July 2023, Shanghai Westwell Technology Co.Ltd. and Xi'an KissFuture Network Technology won the 2023 WIPO Global Awards for their innovative application of IP in logistics and culture respectively.
"A lot of work of WIPO are to help people use IP to bring their ideas to the market, protect their ideas or creations and commercialize them," Tang mentioned that WIPO's close cooperation with China is to help China build the innovation ecosystem so that Chinese enterprises in whatever area can use IP to bring new ideas of innovation technology to the market.
Tang characterized WIPO's cooperation with China as "very broad and very deep". He said that after the Chinese innovation system had achieved remarkable development in the past 50 years, WIPO is willing to further strengthen collaboration with China.
"I am very pleased that on this visit, I had a chance to engage with many important stakeholders, including those in both Guangdong province as well as in Shanghai. And I had a chance to develop and deepen the collaboration with these two places and beyond," Tang noted. On December 9, 2023, the Shanghai Municipal Government and WIPO signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance exchange and cooperation in the field of IP. On the same day, WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center signed a cooperation agreement on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the area of IP with the Guangdong High People's Court.
Tang also referred to WIPO-Tongji University Joint Master's Program, which was designed to develop more IP experts in China. "Overall, I think what we want to do is to help China look at IP from an ecosystem point of view, from a holistic point of view," He assured that WIPO will continue working closely with the Chinese government to support the use of IP as a catalyst of growth and development, not just for China, but for all countries in the world.
Tang stressed that IP requires international collaboration because IP by nature is a bridge to connect countries with different cultures and promote joint development. He highly acknowledged the role of the SIIPF, commenting that "The SIIPF by bringing people from all over the world together, discuss IP issues, giving people a chance to connect and network, to share best practices from around the world. It really contributes a lot to the mutual understanding and collaboration of IP."
