The latest list of winners for the 26th China Patent Awards has been officially released by the China National Intellectual Property Administration. Xi'an has claimed one Gold Award, two Silver Awards, and twelve Excellence Awards in this year's competition, underscoring the city's formidable innovation capacity and core competitiveness as a "National Demonstration City for Intellectual Property Development" and a "National High Ground for Intellectual Property Protection."
Co-hosted by the China National Intellectual Property Administration and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the China Patent Award represents the highest distinction in the nation's patent sector. It serves as a vital benchmark for evaluating the technological strength of both enterprises and cities, as well as the quality of their intellectual property development.
"The winning projects from Xi'an this year are marked by high technical value and significant industrial influence," noted a representative from the Xi'an Municipal Administration for Market Regulation (Intellectual Property Administration). The Gold Award was presented to a research team led by Professor Mei Xuesong from Xi'an Jiaotong University for their patent titled "A Layered-Difference-Based Combined Rear-Wall Protection Method and System for Laser Processing." This innovation addresses a fundamental core process within the high-end precision laser processing sector, successfully overcoming critical technical barriers in aerospace precision manufacturing, filling a domestic technological void, and breaking a long-standing foreign monopoly. It stands as a benchmark innovation achievement in the advanced manufacturing field this year.
The two Silver Awards were secured by the Xi'an Modern Control Technology Research Institute and Shaanxi Heavy Duty Automobile Co., Ltd. The twelve Excellence Awards span key industrial sectors in the city, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, photonics, and new energy vehicles. These accolades reflect both the original research capabilities of universities and research institutes, as well as the outstanding achievements of enterprises pursuing market-driven technological breakthroughs.
"This remarkable performance is a concentrated reflection of Xi'an's ongoing commitment to high-quality intellectual property development and a natural outcome of its continuously optimized innovation ecosystem," the official added. In recent years, the city has leveraged the twin engines of its "National Demonstration City" and "National High Ground" initiatives to systematically build a comprehensive, full-chain ecosystem covering creation, application, protection, management, and services. A series of policies supporting the cultivation of high-value patents and providing financial backing for intellectual property have been rolled out, accelerating the transformation and application of innovative results.
By 2026, Xi'an had climbed to 23rd place globally in the Global Innovation Index (GII), ranking 8th among Chinese clusters on the list. As of the end of July 2026, the city boasted 134,000 valid invention patents, translating to a per-capita rate of 101.49 patents per 10,000 residents. The role of intellectual property in driving and guiding the city's innovation-led development is becoming increasingly prominent.