Auto Valley enjoys 152% increase authorization of invention patents

The main building of the Wuhan first-aid center for intellectual property on automobile and parts. [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]

Data from the sci-tech center of the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WHDZ) indicates that over the past year, 8,490 patents have been authorized, up 87 percent year-on-year, and 1,443 among them are invention patents, a surge of 152 percent on a yearly basis.

The zone has reportedly strengthened its top-down design for the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and formulated complete IPR guidance and incentive mechanisms, with three relevant facilities – the national IPR demonstration park, the China energy-efficient and eco-friendly industrial IPR operation center, and the Wuhan first-aid center for intellectual property on automobile and parts – officially approved.

Wuhan Leituoli Technology Co based in the South Taizihu Innovation Valley, for example, is devoted to developing the electronic control steering system used in autonomous driving technology. Its industrial design patent has been successfully authorized via the preliminary review track of the Wuhan first-aid center for intellectual property on automobile and parts. The review period has been shortened to eight weekdays from the original three months.

In addition, the zone's government has promised to provide no less than 20 million yuan ($3.14 million) annually in funds to reward outstanding firms in terms of patent and trademark application.