Over the past five years, China has achieved significant milestones in its intellectual property (IP) development, with major innovations and infrastructure breakthroughs, such as the Tianwen mission and the Fujian aircraft carrier, marking the nation's progress in independently controllable technologies.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)'s 2025 Global Innovation Index, China ranks 10th, with the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster leading global innovation.
IP has been crucial to national initiatives, including rural vitalization and international trade alignment. The government prioritized IP by releasing the "Outline for Building an Intellectual Property Powerhouse (2021-35)" and the "14th Five-Year Plan for National IP Protection and Utilization", laying the foundations for high-quality IP development.
Throughout the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), China achieved key IP targets, accelerating its IP transformation. The private sector has increased investment in patents, driving higher rates of industrialization, while the implementation of the Private Economy Promotion Law in 2025 further underscored the importance of IP protection in fostering innovation.
By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan, China had established robust IP protection in emerging industries such as quantum technology, 6G communications, and biomanufacturing, supporting the nation's drive for global competitiveness.
As the nation enters the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), the focus will remain on high-quality IP development, strengthening protections, and driving international collaboration, further contributing to global innovation.
