IP a key topic of discussion at global fair

Top legal minds and industry captains from over 130 countries and regions attend event

The 2019 China International Fair for Trade in Services gives IP-related institutions from China and Europe a chance to discuss the industry's future and sign agreements on innovative projects, according to IP specialists.

Themed on openness, innovation, intelligence and integration, the 2019 CIFTIS aims to become a world-leading fair in the global service industry. It promotes frontier ideas, advanced technologies, innovations and industrial standards. The event opened on Tuesday and will last through Saturday at the China National Convention Center in Beijing.

The event has attracted more than 130 foreign countries and regions - many of them involved in the Belt and Road Initiative - as well as 21 international organizations. Thailand is the Guest of Honor Country.

Zhang Kun, executive director of the EU-China Industrial and Commercial Investment Promotion Union, said during the seminar: "ECIPU will work with many European multinational enterprises to organize IP events and activities, to better serve the 2019 CIFTIS."

An international symposium on "Intellectual Property Rights: China-EU Integrated Innovation and Development Driving Force" will be held on the second day of the 2019 CIFTIS. It is co-organized by a raft of famed institutions, including the China-Britain Business Council, the China Intellectual Property Society, Peking University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and the Sino-European Institute for Intellectual Property.

It will see other influential law firms and big players in the innovative industry share their experience and ideas to spark innovation.

The big names include the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, CCI Paris Ile-de-France, the China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, Guantao Law Firm and Beijing Guowei Intellectual Property Judicial Appraisal Center.

Guenther Marten, minister counselor and an IP expert at the European Union Delegation to China, said that IP is a shortcut for developing countries to boost economic growth.

"In general terms, developing countries ... need three things in order to make growth happen: international trade, technology transfer and foreign investment," he said.

"The higher IP is respected in the country, the higher foreign investment is going to be. Multiple studies confirm it," he said. He cited a world patent index as an example. Every time an economy improves one ranking position in the index, its direct foreign investment will increase by 2.8 percent

"China has gone an important part of the way in IP so far from the 1980s, whereas patents started in Europe from the 1850s. Europe has a long tradition in IPR and if we are able to help China on its way to a sustainable business-friendly society, we will be happy," he said.

China's economy has improved a lot; the country has become the world's second-largest economy, he said. "IP awareness in China is higher than that in Europe."

On Wednesday, he will deliver keynote speeches during CIFTIS. This is to be followed by an in-depth discussion on topics such as geographical indications and IP, scientific and technological innovation and investment cooperation. A China-EU IP service alliance will be launched to support bilateral trade in services, investment, science and education cooperation.

In addition, ECIPU will organize the EU-China International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, an international forum of urbanization and sustainable development and other activities during the 2019 CIFTIS, to share case studies with more than 16 foreign partners from countries including Germany, France, Hungary, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Spain.

"A series of inspiring meetings touching on clean technology in the United Kingdom, ecological agriculture in Russia, and China-Europe scientific and technological innovation will wow attendees and audiences," Zhang added.

yinruowei@chinadaily.com.cn