A provincial conference on patent commercialization and the special rectification of the intellectual property (IP) agency sector was recently held in Guangzhou. The meeting focused on thoroughly studying and implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on IP work, and on carrying out the policy directives of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Government. It also conveyed the key messages of the National Conference on IP Utilization and Promotion and the National Conference on Special Rectification of the IP Agency Sector.

The conference reviewed the three-year progress of Guangdong’s patent commercialization initiative and the ongoing rectification campaign targeting the IP agency industry, facilitated the exchange of best practices, and set out priorities for the next stage. Relevant officials from the Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation attended and delivered remarks.

The conference noted that since the issuance and implementation of the Implementation Plan for the Special Action on Patent Commercialization in Guangdong Province (2023–2025), coordinated efforts across government departments and municipalities have yielded significant results.

In 2025, the total number of patent assignments and licenses in Guangdong reached 196,000, while the industrialization rate of patents held by universities and research institutes increased to 15.6%. During the course of the initiative, the total amount of patent and trademark pledge financing reached RMB 1.1 trillion, and 5,004 new open licensing declarations were recorded. Notably, the Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou innovation cluster ranked first globally among the top 100 clusters for the first time, underscoring the increasingly prominent role of IP in supporting and driving economic and social development.

The conference further highlighted that since 2025, Guangdong has actively implemented the joint deployment of three central government ministries to carry out a special rectification campaign in the IP agency sector. A dedicated action plan has been issued, accompanied by self-inspection and rectification measures, comprehensive investigation of leads, and strict enforcement against illegal and non-compliant practices.

Ongoing efforts have also been made to strengthen the early-stage screening of abnormal patent applications. These measures have delivered tangible results, contributing to a steadily improving IP service environment. Since the launch of the campaign, administrative penalties have been imposed on two patent agencies, one trademark agency, and three trademark practitioners, with total fines and confiscations amounting to RMB 109,800.

The conference emphasized the need to continue studying and implementing Xi Jinping’s important discourse on IP, fully align with the guiding principles of the National Conference on IP Utilization and Promotion, and adapt to new policy directions and development requirements for IP during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Efforts will be made to promote the normalization and long-term development of patent commercialization at a higher level.

Key measures include: Continuously improving the policy framework for patent commercialization and ensuring effective alignment with policies on technological innovation and industrial development;

Establishing long-term mechanisms, including dynamic inventory management of existing patents, value assessment, tiered and categorized management, pre-filing evaluation systems, and due diligence exemption mechanisms, while deepening reforms on the ownership of service inventions and technological achievements; Strengthening market orientation by encouraging universities and research institutes to shift from a “technology-driven” to a “market demand-driven” approach to patent development; Enhancing commercialization platforms, deepening financial support, and strengthening service systems to stimulate the initiative and motivation of various innovation entities.

In addition, the conference set out comprehensive plans for continuing the “Year of Rectification and Standardization” campaign in the IP agency sector in 2026, including:

Sustained crackdowns on illegal and non-compliant practices in IP agency services, with enhanced lead identification, case verification, and enforcement actions; Strengthening regulatory capacity at the grassroots level through targeted training for enforcement personnel; Improving inter-agency coordination mechanisms, including information sharing and case referral systems with public security authorities.

Representatives from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education and the Department of Public Security, as well as market regulation authorities from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, and Dongguan, shared their experiences in patent commercialization and the rectification campaign.

Officials from multiple provincial departments—including development and reform, science and technology, industry and information technology, agriculture and rural affairs, commerce, and health—as well as research institutions such as the Guangzhou Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Guangdong Academy of Sciences, also attended the meeting.