Conference highlights progress of IP sector

The China Intellectual Property Annual Conference is scheduled to open online on Wednesday and will last through to Friday, providing a high-level platform for IP exchanges and cooperation.

The CIPAC 2022 aims to showcase China's progress in the IP sphere, advance the implementation of national IP initiatives and ramp up support for the country's modernization, organizers said.

The annual event, which has been suspended for two years due to the COVID-19 outbreak, is to return, with more than 100 government officials, representatives of international organizations and trade associations, noted researchers and heavyweight industrial experts invited to share their insights into topical issues within the industry.

Shen Changyu, commissioner of the National Intellectual Property Administration, and Daren Tang, director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, as well as officials from the Jiangsu provincial and Suzhou city governments will address the opening ceremony of the CIPAC 2022.

Among the keynote speakers are Liu Lian'ge, board chairman of the Bank of China; Zhao Yuliang, director of the National Center for Nano-science and Technology; Liu Hua, director of the WIPO Office in China; Song Liuping, senior vice-president, chief legal officer and chief compliance officer of Huawei Technologies; and Wang Xiang, president of Xiaomi Corp, according to organizers.

Revolving around advancing the construction of China into an IP powerhouse, the attendees will conduct discussions on topics such as the development and future of IP; promotion of IP-collateralized financial innovation and support for the real economy; IP boosting high-quality development of pharmaceuticals and medical care; trademark registration and protection in the digital economy; and geographical indication protection and high-quality industrial development.

Topics lined up for the CIPAC 2022 will also include creating fertile ground for trademark protection to spark vitality in the market; optimizing legal systems for innovation; launches of IP products and services; creating a bright future of IP-based telecommunications; activating the dynamics of IP operation and advancing integration of industry, academy, research and application; and the rise of emerging business patterns and the exploration of the IP frontier.

As a key part of the CIPAC 2022, an international IP product and service show, which was originally planned to cover an exhibition area of some 8,000 square meters, will move online. A total of 152 exhibitors from China and abroad will display their products and introduce their services at the virtual exhibition.

Participation of international exhibitors from such countries as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and Portugal, as well as those from China's Hong Kong and Macao regions signals the interest of overseas businesses in the domestic market competition.

Among the exhibitors of IP service providers and related financiers are Bank of China, PatSnap Suzhou, Gaowo, Clarivate Analytics, Beijing incoPat, Beijing Mengzhi Network Technology, Wayne Intellectual Property Agency, Han Kun Law Offices, and China Science Patent &Trademark Agent.

On top of the forums and the exhibition, a business matchmaking event focusing on geographical indications will be another highlight of the three-day conference.

Leveraging the resources of CIPAC and its strategic partner BOC, the GI-focused event will provide communication and exchange opportunities for businesses.

Organizers said they have invited large supermarket chains, distributors, online sales platforms and related companies from around the world to the event, hoping to boost the upgrade of GI-related industries and help with rural vitalization.

The event will make full use of an online business matchmaking platform operated by BOC, called BOC E-Cooperation Service, which has been serving small and micro businesses for years. It is expected to offer precision matchmaking services for both demand and supply sides, according to organizers.

Inaugurated in 2010, the annual CIPAC sponsored and organized by Intellectual Property Publishing House evolved from the China Patent Information Annual Conference and the China Patent Annual Conference.

With more than a decade of development, the CIPAC has expanded in size and topic coverage, and grown in stature and influence. Acclaimed as the weathervane of China's IP field, the international event has become an annual gala for industrial exchanges and authoritative interpretation of the latest IP policies, thus attracting wide attention at home and abroad.

For more information, please visit: www.cipac.com