The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has announced that Chinese companies are increasingly transforming their invention patents into commercially viable products and processes. This trend is particularly evident among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are playing an increasingly significant role in the industrialization of patents and contributing substantially to the rising industrialization rate.
In 2024, the commercialization rate for valid invention patents reached 53.3%, marking a two-percentage-point increase compared to the previous year. Notably, SMEs have consistently exceeded the national average in recent years, achieving industrialization rates of 61.4% and 57.8%, thereby demonstrating their innovative strength. Even micro-enterprises have made progress, with their patents being successfully industrialized at a rate of 36.7% in 2024—the highest level in the past four years.
A key driver of this development is the high-tech industry, which has seen a significant boost in the economic utilization of patents. Companies in this sector achieved an industrialization rate of 61.2% in 2024, reflecting an increase of 3.6 percentage points compared to the previous year. This figure is 7.9 percentage points above the average for other businesses, underscoring the growing importance of technological innovations.
Additionally, a clear trend toward sustainable technologies is emerging. According to CNIPA, nearly 50% of Chinese patent-holding companies are already engaged in researching or developing environmentally friendly technologies or planning related initiatives.
By the end of 2024, Chinese companies held more than 3.5 million valid invention patents, accounting for 73.7% of all patents in the country. Compared to the previous year, this represents an increase of 2.6 percentage points, highlighting the continuous strengthening of China’s innovation landscape.
Source: CNIPA
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