China's invention patent applications have ranked first globally for several consecutive years. The country now has 5.32 million domestic valid invention patents, making it the first in the world to surpass 5 million, according to the China National Intellectual Property Administration.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, domestic valid invention patents continued to grow, with high-value patents reaching 16 per 10,000 people. This demonstrates China's ongoing commitment to innovation and its pursuit of advanced scientific and technological independence.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, China has prioritized intellectual property (IP) protection, embedding it in the innovation ecosystem. The country has shortened the time needed to establish a robust patent framework, accelerating the transformation from a patent-producing nation to a patent-strong country.
By the end of 2025, China held 2.292 million high-value invention patents, about 70 percent of which were in strategic emerging industries. It accounted for roughly 60 percent of global AI patents, two-thirds of robotics patents, and led the world in Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) green and low-carbon patent publications.
Patent protection and commercialization have strengthened. Average examination periods have shortened to 15 months, among the fastest globally. During the 14th Five-Year Plan, banks issued more than 900 billion yuan ($131 billion) in IP pledge loans, supporting innovation and the practical application of high-value patents.
By January 2026, foreign applicants held over 922,000 valid invention patents in China, demonstrating growing international confidence in the country's improving IP system and reinforcing a culture that values innovation and the protection of knowledge.
