Jiangsu Province Hosts Patent Agency Services Investment Conference & Study Tour

During 30 July and 2 August 2013, an investment conference and study tour, organised by All-China Patent Attorneys Association (ACPAA), was conducted in Jiangsu province to attract competent domestic patent firms to build their presence in the province.

The conference, held in Nanjing, was attended by leading officials from the State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO), Jiangsu Provincial IP Office, Nanjing Municipal IP Office, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Jiangsu Provincial Committee, as well as council members of ACPAA. China Patent Agent (H.K.) Ltd. (CPA), represented by its deputy general manager Ms. Tina Tai and Shanghai office director Mr. Liu Dong, was also one among the 19 patent firms participating in the event.

Jiangsu has sustained for the recent years a top position in terms of patent filing over other Chinese provinces, on top of its advanced science and technology, robust innovative industry, and solid economic base. Despite that, IP services industry in the province is lagging behind its overall demand. To fill the gap, the provincial government has put in a lot of efforts and resources to facilitate the growth of local IP services industry

At the opening ceremony of the investment conference, SIPO deputy commissioner Mr. He Hua reiterated such demand for IP services. He urged that participating firms give earnest consideration of anchoring their long term growth in Jiangsu, a region endowed with many favourable conditions for investment, while addressing the diverse services in demand in various areas within the province.

Another speaker at the conference, Ms Su Ping, deputy director of Jiangsu Province IP Office, depicted the current IP landscape in the region. She also mentioned specifically about the provincial government's intention to establish hubs of IP services in the cities of Nanjing, Suzhou, and Nantong, by directing influential, well-established IP firms nationwide to offer IP agency, consulting, information, and legal services there.

The conference was followed by a tour to six cities of the province, namely, Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Changzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, and Nantong. Representatives from the participating patent firms were arranged site visits to hi-tech zones of these cities and meetings with local IP officials to understand the market conditions, IP development status, and investment policies of respective localities.