According to the recent statistics of China State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), the total numbers of patent applications and granted patents had kept increasing rapidly in the first half of 2009. By June 30, 2009, SIPO had accepted 426,000 patent applications, an increase of 23.1% over that in the same period of 2008. At the same time, 252,000 patents had been allowed, with a growth of 31.3% over that in the same period of 2008. What is inspiring, the percentage of patent applications for invention filed by Chinese domestic applicants exceeded 70% of the total, and the total number of patents for invention granted to Chinese applicants exceeded that to foreign applicants for the first time.

Of the 426,000 patent applications, 375,000 (an increase of 28.9%) were filed by Chinese domestic applicants, accounting for 88.0% of the total. Of the 148.000 patent applications for invention, 104,000 (70.3% of the total) were filed by Chinese domestic applicants, increasing by 22,4% over the same period of 2008, while the rest 44,000 (29.7% of the total) were filed by foreign applicants, decreasing by 6.4% over the same period of last year.

As far as the 252,000 allowed patents, 213,000 were granted to Chinese domestic applicants, increasing by 29.9% over the same period of last year, while 39,000 were granted to foreign applicants, increasing by 39.3% over the same period of last year.

By June 30, 2009, SIPO had accepted 5,276,000 patent applications, including 4,400,000 (83.4% of the total) from Chinese domestic applicants; and granted 2,753,000 patents, including 2,355,000 (85.5% of the total) to Chinese domestic applicants.

According to the experts from the SIPO, the situation of patent applications and granted patents during the first half of 2009 reveals the following statistics:

Firstly, the percentage of patent applications for invention filed by Chinese domestic applicants exceeded that filed by foreign applicants, and the total number of patents granted to Chinese domestic applicants surpassed that to foreign applicants.

Secondly, patent applications filed by Chinese domestic applicants resumed steady growth rate at 28.9%.

Thirdly, the total number of patent applications from foreign applicants showed a decrease for the first time over the past years. Specifically, as a result of the global financial crisis, some transnational corporations and enterprises reduced the number of patent applications abroad and readjusted the strategy of patent applications. Accordingly, the total number of patent applications filed by foreign applicants came down by 4.7%. Specifically, those from Korea, US and Japan decreased by 29.6%, 8.4% and 4.7% respectively. However, transnational corporations and enterprises increased their patent applications in the fields of hybrid electric vehicles and medical equipment and devices.

Fourthly, the examination capacity and efficiency of the SIPO was improved rapidly. During the first half of 2009, the total number of granted patents increased by 31.3% over the same period of 2008. Especially, the total number of granted patents for invention, of which substantive examination is required, increased by 57.5% over the same period of 2008.