The Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone became the first in the province to surpass the 10,000 mark in valid invention patents in October 2021. The number doubled in May this year, exceeding 20,000.

An aerial view of the Hefei National High-tech Industrial Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu] 

In 2022, the zone began implementing a patent application initiative, guiding enterprises to enhance their awareness and capabilities in intellectual property protection. Since then, the zone has become home to over 3,000 national high-tech enterprises, accounting for 40% of Hefei's total, with its unicorn and potential unicorn companies ranking seventh and ninth among national high-tech zones, respectively. Additionally, 35 listed companies, or 40% of the city's total, are self-cultivated. 96.6% of the zone's invention patents originated from enterprises.

The intellectual property service building in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

The zone's Intellectual Property Service Integration Center signed cooperation framework agreements with 11 private incubators in the zone in March, establishing workstations within these incubators to provide personalized intellectual property services. In its first year of operation, the center has carried out 11 intellectual property training sessions, and serviced more than 800 enterprises on-site.

The matchmaking meeting on patent commercialization is held in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone, Dec. 8, 2023. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu] 

Looking ahead, the zone will focus on patent commercialization, fostering connectivity among the patent chain, innovation chain, industrial chain, and capital chain. This will help achieve a synergy between the efficient application of intellectual property and high-quality economic development.