On the 25th World Intellectual Property Day, the Foshan National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone (FHIDZ) hosted its annual event, highlighting the integration of intellectual property (IP), scientific and technological innovation, and financial support. A strategic blueprint for building an innovation "Golden Triangle" was also released at the event.
With the theme "Empowering Innovation with IP Protection," the event reviewed FHIDZ's achievements in intellectual property development and outlined a forward-looking plan to promote a synergistic model of "IP+Innovation+Finance," aiming to foster new quality productive forces in the region.
Strengthening the Rule of Law: From Highlighting Achievements to Building a Full-Chain Protection Mechanism
At the event, "Top 10 IP Highlights of 2024" were unveiled, showcasing the zone's significant progress in intellectual property development. Key indicators included 544.29 effective invention patents per 10 billion RMB in business revenue, and 189.03 invention patents granted per 10,000 people annually, both ranking among the top nationwide. The zone supported enterprises in filing 228 new high-value invention patent applications and facilitated over 1.6 billion RMB in IP pledge financing, benefiting more than 200 companies. Through a tripartite coordination mechanism, the settlement rate of IP infringement disputes reached 85 percent. These achievements underscore FHIDZ's continued efforts to foster a robust innovation ecosystem.
FHIDZ hosted an annual event around the theme "Empowering Innovation with IP Protection"
Fifty IP-intensive enterprises demonstrate robust R&D capabilities and serve as role models for the district. Companies such as Midea Washing Appliances and Nationstar Optoelectronics received commendations based on a comprehensive evaluation system centered on patent holdings, achievement conversion rate, and IP enforcement activity, which are key indicators used to assess the true value of enterprise intellectual property.
A number of enterprises received commendations
The signing of a new round of cooperation agreements between the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court, the Foshan Intermediate People's Court, and FHIDZ to jointly establish a circuit court marks an upgrade of judicial protection in the region. Since its establishment in 2019, the circuit court has handled 115 cases and mediated over 600 disputes. At the event, nine outstanding IP dispute mediators in FHIDZ were awarded certificates of honor for their contributions in 2024.
The signing ceremony
Activating Innovation Potential: From Incentive Scores to Tiered Cultivation
Intellectual property is a key feature of FHIDZ's sci-tech enterprises, reflecting the broader commitment and comprehensive support framework in the zone.
The enterprise innovation credit system plays a crucial role in integrating the innovation resources
FHIDZ has demonstrated its strength in the national enterprise innovation credit system, ranking among the top 100 National High-tech Enterprises Innovation Rankings. It stands out in key areas such as electronic information, environmental resources, and advanced manufacturing, underscoring the competitive edge of "Foshan Intelligent Manufacturing" in crucial sectors.
The enterprise innovation credit system strengthens the role of enterprises as innovation leaders and promotes the concentration of innovation resources within them. In 2024, the Torch High Technology Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology launched the first national benchmark database for enterprise innovation credits, establishing a new scientific and technology innovation standard.
The 2024 FHIDZ enterprise innovation credit ranking selected 50 companies from the stable stage, 30 from the growth stage, and 20 from the startup stage, with all 100 receiving the highest Class A innovation rating.
Moreover, FHIDZ also released its "Tiered Service Plan for Sci-Tech SMEs," creating a growth ladder and integrating resources from universities and research institutes to offer tailored innovation roadmaps for companies at different stages.
Unblocking Financial Lifeblood: From Credit Scoring to Innovation-Finance Ecosystem
At the event, financial institutions such as China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, and Nanhai Rural Commercial Bank shared targeted services for sci-tech enterprises, emphasizing their commitment to advancing tech-driven finance.
In recent years, FHIDZ has enhanced resource coordination throughout the lifecycle of innovation-credit enterprises. In collaboration with financial institutions, it launched the "Innovation Score Loan," approving loans for 106 companies totaling 6.184 billion RMB.
FHIDZ is also participating in the National Sci-Tech Finance Innovation Service Campaign, jointly establishing a Sci-Tech Finance Innovation Service Center and allocating a 30 billion RMB dedicated credit fund to support this initiative.
At the event, financial institutions shared targeted services for sci-tech enterprises
"Serving is the aim of what we go to the frontlines of industry to host this event," said Qian Zhong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Administrative Committee of FHIDZ. He also emphasized that grasping the essence of the innovation 'golden triangle'—intellectual property, technological transformation, and finance—is key to companies achieving disruptive breakthroughs.
In recent years, FHIDZ has leveraged IP as a shield, innovation transformation as a sword, and financial support as a resource, driving synchronized progress in IP, technological innovation, and industrial upgrading.
Once these three elements form a closed loop, innovation will no longer be a fleeting spark but a torch with lasting impact, lighting the way not only for the upgrading of "Foshan Intelligent Manufacturing" but also providing a breakthrough model for China's high-tech zones in the era of new quality productive forces.
Reporter | Zoey
Revisor | Ella, Lynn
Resource | Foshan News and Media Center