China has completed its first nationwide screening of over 1.3 million patents held by universities and research institutions, identifying 680,000 with high commercialization potential. The initiative, part of a 2023 State Council action plan, connected these patents to 460,000 companies to bridge the gap between lab innovation and market-ready products.
By the end of 2025, industrialization rates for university and research institution patents reached 10.1% and 17.2%, respectively—a significant jump from pre-2023 levels. Key technologies in quantum computing, bio-manufacturing, and 6G communications are now prioritized for development, according to Hu Wenhui, deputy commissioner of the China National Intellectual Property Administration.
The program has also empowered SMEs, such as Hangzhou’s robotics pioneer Unitree, through Zhejiang Province’s patent industrialization framework. Meanwhile, AI and big data are being leveraged to assess patent value, as noted by Ministry of Education official Zhou Dawang.
Despite China leading globally in patent filings, challenges like lengthy transfer cycles and researcher-commercial misalignment persist. Recent reforms, including commercialization incentives and specialized tech-transfer platforms, aim to transform patented research into tangible economic drivers.
"Technology must move from labs to production lines," emphasized Wei Wei of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, underscoring the push to integrate innovation into daily life.
