Since a high-performing economy depends on innovation, to better protect companies’ patented inventions the Pudong Intellectual Property Protection Center has cut the procedure for applying for an invention patent from the previous three years to three months.

“This is the most down-to-earth policy I have ever seen. Last June, after applying for a patent at the Pudong Intellectual Property Protection Center, we passed an expedited review and completed the authorization which was usually expected to take three years in only three months!” exclaimed Zhang Dianli, president of Flyingwings Robotics Technology, a leading Intelligent Service Robot provider in Shanghai. In Zhang’s view, this has not only protected his company’s innovation, but also is conducive to its competitiveness in the international market.

For Wang Kai, an overseas returnee, and his entrepreneurship team, “Pudong speed” has also been surprising. In June last year, his team received a patent authorization notice for its tumor sequencing technology in slightly less than 70 days after application, largely paving the way to launch its products.

Regarding the reason for the procedure acceleration, He Ying, the director of the center explained that since it came into operation last year, the center has opened a green channel for a faster approval procedure for enterprises having a strong innovation capability and good reputation. At present, more than 300 businesses have entered the rapid review filing system, of which private enterprises account for more than 80%.

Besides carrying out rapid review, the institution has also taken other measures such as improving the comprehensive intellectual property protection mechanism and promoting rapid rights protection. In the future, more qualified enterprises will be included in the rapid review list and the services to key industries and projects in Pudong will be increased.