byXinhuawriterYuanQuanBEIJING,March21(Xinhua)--Thedeclineinglobalpatentfilingshasraisedconcernsaboutpotentialstagnationinworldwideinnovation.China'sperformance,however,canprovidesomereassurance.AccordingtotheWorldIntellectualPropertyOrganization,in2023Chinaremainedthetopsourcewith69,610internationalpatentfilings,slipping0.6percentfromayearearlier,thefirstdropsince2002.Thetotalnumberofpatentfilingsworldwideexperienceda1.8percentdecline,withmanyotherleadingcountriesinintellectualproperty(IP)alsoobservingdecreaseslastyear.Thetemporarydipcausedsomeeconomiststospeculateaboutaninnovationcrunch.However,theremaybeadifferentperspectivewhenexaminingChina'scase.TheslightfallinChina'spatentsubmissionsindicatesashiftwithinthecountry'sIPsectorfromexpandinginscaletofocusingmoreonqualityandhighvalue,therebyenhancinggenuineindigenousinnovation.Theshiftisevidentinseveralaspects.Increasedscrutinyandstrictercriteriaforpatentapplicationsarenowinplace,ensuringthatonlyauthenticinnovativeideascangetthegreenlight.Thistransformationalignswithbroaderreforms.Since2019,ChinahasupdatedmajorIPlaws,introducingstringentpunitivemeasuresandrefiningtheIPreviewprocessthrough16reforminitiativesissuedbytheStateCouncilin2021.ThesemeasureshighlightChina'scommitmenttoqualityoverquantityinpatenting.Furthermore,theChinesegovernmentactivelypromotesthedeepintegrationofindustry,universities,andresearchinstitutes,encouragingresearchanddevelopmentinvestmentandindependentinnovation.Thisapproachisnotonlyacceleratingtechnologicalprogressbutalsoprovidingstrongsupportforsustainableeconomicgrowth."Lessismore."ThedialecticalphraseperfectlycapturestheessenceofChina'sIPsectorinitspursuitofhigh-qualitydevelopment.TheNationalIntellectualPropertyAdministration(NIPA),thecountry'stopIPregulator,reporteda25.7percentincreaseinthenumberofpatentsforhigh-valueinventionslastyear.Moreover,withapopulationof1.4billion,China'saverageownershipofhigh-valueinventionpatentsroseto11.8patentsper10,000peoplebytheendof2023,2.4morethanin2022.China'scontributiontoglobalIPextendstocutting-edgesectorslikequantuminformation,AI,and5G.AstudybytheGermanthink-tankBertelsmannStiftungshowcasesChina'sleadershipingreentechnologies,withasurgeintop-tierpatents,positioningthecountryasakeyglobalplayerinthisdomain.Suchdedicationtoquality-driveninnovationhaspropelledChinatothe12thspotontheGlobalInnovationIndex2023.Earlierthisyear,ShenChangyu,theheadoftheNIPA,reiteratedChina'scommitmenttoenhancingpatentqualityandactivelyengaginginglobalinnovationpartnerships.Thedecreaseinpatentfilingsmaycreatetheimpressionofatemporaryslowdownininnovation,butChina'sfocusonenhancingqualityinitsIPpracticespromisestobolsteritsinnovativecapabilitiesandcontributesignificantlytoglobalinnovationdynamics,fuelingthegrowthofnewqualityproductiveforces.Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.