WIPO China: AI and other digital technologies are now the key drivers of innovation

The 22nd Shanghai International Intellectual Property Forum was held in Shanghai on October 18 and 19, jointly organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government (SMPG). The theme of this year's Forum was "Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence."WIPO Director General Daren Tang delivered a written message to the Forum. WIPO Deputy Director General Wang Binying attended the opening ceremony and presented the Fifth WIPO–Shanghai Award for Innovation. Mr. Gong Zheng, Mayor of Shanghai, and Mr. Shen Changyu, Commissioner of CNIPA, also attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. The main forum brought together over 300 participants, including representatives from government authorities, domestic and international enterprises, academia, and intellectual property service institutions.

The Director General pointed out that digital technologies such as artificial intelligence have become key drivers of innovation and creativity, giving rise to new products and services, and necessitating strengthened intellectual property protection and commercialization. China's emergence as a key player in the field of artificial intelligence also reflects the overall enhancement of its comprehensive intellectual property capabilities. China boasts 24 global top 100 science and technology innovation clusters, with the Shanghai-Suzhou cluster ranking 6th globally. Shanghai is home to over 10,000 AI enterprises, more than 20,000 AI invention patents, and a workforce of nearly 300,000 AI professionals, showcasing strong innovative vitality. WIPO is willing to further deepen cooperation and exchanges in intellectual property with the Chinese government and Shanghai municipality, jointly building a more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Mr. Gong Zheng stated that currently, Shanghai is taking scientific and technological innovation as the guide to accelerate its development into a modern, globally influential international metropolis. Shanghai has consistently regarded building itself into a strong city in intellectual property rights as a crucial focal point for driving high-quality development. As of the end of September this year, the number of valid invention patents in the city reached 306,000, with the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people exceeding 63. Shanghai will fully leverage the significant role of intellectual property in safeguarding innovation and empowering development.

Mr. Shen stated that accelerating the development of the new generation of artificial intelligence is a strategic issue concerning whether China can seize the opportunities presented by the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. CNIPA has been continuously improving the intellectual property rules and regulations in the field of artificial intelligence and utilizing large-scale AI model technologies to enhance governance efficiency in the intellectual property sector.

Representatives from WIPO delivered presentations at the main forum and sub-forums on topics including" AI-driven process optimization and digital transformation", "the application of AI technology in WIPO", "The Intellectual Property Ecosystem in the Digital Age: Resilience", "Arbitration and Mediation of International Intellectual Property Disputes at WIPO", and "WIPO's AI Tools and Applications."