China's outstanding performance in the field of international patent application
China leads the way in international patent filings
According to WIPO data, the total number of PCT international patent applications worldwide in 2023 was 272,600, down 1.8% year-on-year. Against this backdrop, China remained the largest source of PCT applications, with 69,610 filings, a slight decrease of 0.6 per cent year-on-year, but still significantly ahead of the second-ranked United States (55,678).
It is worth noting that this is the fifth consecutive year that China has ranked first in the world in the number of PCT applications. Since its first ascension to the top in 2019, China's leading position in international patent applications has been strengthened. This not only demonstrates the continuous growth of China's innovation strength, but also reflects the unremitting pursuit of innovation by Chinese enterprises and universities.
Chinese companies and universities performed well
In terms of corporate applicants, Chinese technology giant Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. topped the global list with 6,494 PCT applications, ranking first for seven consecutive years, demonstrating Huawei's commitment to innovation and R&D.
In addition to Huawei, other Chinese companies such as BOE, CATL, OPPO, ZTE, etc. have also entered the top of the PCT filings. CATL is the fastest-growing company among the top 10 applicants, with 1,533 applications in 2023, rising 84 places to eighth. This shows the innovation vitality of Chinese enterprises in the field of emerging technologies.
In the field of education, Chinese universities are also doing well. Soochow University ranked second in the world with 332 applications, followed by the University of California. Although Tsinghua University's total number of applications is slightly lower than that of Soochow University, it is the largest increase among the top five educational institutions, with 35 more applications from the previous year.
There is a new trend in the distribution of technology fields
In terms of the distribution of technical fields, computer technology accounted for the largest proportion of published PCT applications, at 10.2 per cent, in the fields of digital communications, electrical machinery, medical technology and pharmaceuticals. It is worth noting that while filings in the field of computer technology fell by 3.4 per cent, sectors such as electrical machinery, transport, semiconductors and biotechnology saw varying degrees of growth. This reflects the fact that emerging technology areas are becoming hotspots for innovation, and that Chinese companies and universities are increasingly active in these areas.
China's innovation ecosystem continues to improve
China's leading position in international patent applications is inseparable from the continuous optimization and improvement of China's innovation ecosystem. In recent years, the Chinese government has attached great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights and created a favorable environment for innovation. Chinese enterprises and universities have also increased R&D investment and continuously improved their independent innovation capabilities.
China's investment in talent training and basic research has injected a steady stream of impetus into innovation. The growth and emergence of a large number of outstanding scientific and technological talents have contributed valuable strength to China's innovation.