A new initiative has been launched in Jiangsu province to strengthen the international patent positioning of local enterprises.
On July 16, the provincial government held a press conference where Li Jie, Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Intellectual Property Office, formally introduced the "Implementation Opinions on Strengthening Overseas Patent Layout." This document outlines a comprehensive framework of 15 specific measures across five key areas.
The policy is designed to tackle the common challenges companies face when seeking patent protection abroad. It aims to provide robust support for businesses to strategically plan their global patent portfolios, mitigate risks related to foreign intellectual property, and build stronger competitive barriers in international markets.
In recent years, Jiangsu has been actively advancing its development as a province with a strong intellectual property ecosystem. Multiple departments, including those overseeing intellectual property, industry and information technology, justice, and commerce, have been working in concert. Their efforts focus on refining the collaborative protection system for intellectual property involving foreign elements and implementing the "Suzhi Escort" project. These initiatives collectively enhance companies' capabilities in risk prevention, dispute resolution, and forward-looking patent planning for overseas operations.
The introduction of this new policy represents a concrete step in implementing the national "Outline for Building a Country Strong on Intellectual Property." It also serves as a crucial tool for Jiangsu to navigate international competition, build a modern industrial system, and expand high-level openness to the global market.
Director Li Jie detailed the five main tasks outlined in the Implementation Opinions. These include launching a "Compass" action for overseas patent navigation, closely aligned with the province's "1650" industrial system, to align proprietary technologies with international standards. The province will also establish a list of key enterprises involved in foreign business and provide them with customized, "one enterprise, one policy" support, along with regular risk warnings and practical training sessions.
Furthermore, a provincial-level integrated service platform for foreign-related intellectual property will be established. This platform will utilize tools like service vouchers, patent insurance, and integrated investment and loan services to reduce the costs associated with overseas patent filing for companies. The policy also aims to leverage international cooperation platforms to gather high-quality resources and cultivate interdisciplinary talent proficient in technology, law, and international regulations. Finally, it will improve mechanisms for inter-departmental coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and incentive promotion, ensuring responsibilities are effectively implemented at municipal and county levels.
The Implementation Opinions highlight three distinct features. First is precision in policy application, creating tailored patent layout plans and risk prevention strategies for individual companies. Second is categorized guidance, offering practical, hands-on coaching tailored to different types of enterprises such as exporters, specialized and sophisticated SMEs, and high-tech firms. Third is digital empowerment, developing "AI+" scenarios for patent navigation and risk assessment to enhance the accuracy of patent positioning.
Li Jie stated that in the next phase, the Provincial Intellectual Property Office will collaborate with relevant departments to widely promote the policy and ensure the detailed implementation of all measures. The ongoing goal is to continuously strengthen companies' capabilities in managing overseas intellectual property risks and strategic patent planning. This will leverage the hard power of intellectual property to safeguard Jiangsu enterprises as they engage more deeply in global market competition.