There has been a rapid increase in the number of artificial intelligence (AI) patents in China amid efforts to promote innovation in the digital economy , Ge Shu, an official at the China Intellectual Property Administration, the country's top intellectual property (IP) regulator, said on Monday.
Ge told a press conference that by the end of last year, the number of active patents for AI-related inventions in China had reached 378,000, up more than 40 percent year-on-year and 1.4 times the global average growth rate.
By December 2023, 155,000 domestic enterprises will have patents for inventions related to the digital economy, up 31,000 from the previous year, he said, adding that “the creative potential in AI is becoming stronger.”
At the same time, China has seen increased patent activity by foreign innovators in key sectors of the country's digital economy, he said.
AI is on the rise in China
By the end of 2023, a total of 93 countries and regions will have valid invention patents in major industries of China's digital economy, of which 61.8 percent will be related to digital product manufacturing, he added.
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"We have always adhered to the principle of equal protection for every entity, whether domestic or foreign, to create a favorable business environment with fair competition for them and better help innovators cope with IP-related difficulties," said Hu Wenhui, deputy head of the administration.
He said more than 5,000 foreign and joint ventures have registered with 115 IP protection centers across the country, meaning “ they can enjoy the same IP services as domestic innovators through fast channels.”
In addition, since early last year, the administration has helped enterprises from many countries, including the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Thailand and Denmark, successfully resolve IP-related disputes in China, “ which has been highly praised by these foreign companies ,” he said.
To learn more about the problems and needs of foreign enterprises, the administration has also established a regular communication system for them, aiming to make them feel secure and confident in investing in China, he said.