This Plan Charts the "Construction Blueprint" for Intellectual Property during the "15th Five-Year Plan" Period

Intellectual property (IP) is a strategic national resource and a core element of international competitiveness, as well as a key manifestation of scientific, technological, and innovative achievements. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period (2026–2030), how can we accelerate the building of a powerhouse in intellectual property?

The State Council has recently issued the "15th Five-Year Plan" for Intellectual Property Protection and Utilization, providing a "construction blueprint" for the goals, directions, and key tasks of IP development over the next five years.

The Plan sets forth that by 2030, China's overall IP strength and international competitiveness will be further enhanced, and decisive progress will be made in building a powerhouse in intellectual property. With six prospective targets, four major tasks, and twelve special projects, the Plan adheres to established principles while embracing innovation in its indicator framework, and pursues pragmatic and effective implementation. It not only responds to current needs but also incorporates forward-looking strategic planning.

Strengthening Protection: Weaving a Tighter "Safety Net" for Innovation Achievements

Innovation is the primary driver of development, and protecting IP means protecting innovation.

During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China made significant strides in IP legal safeguards and enforcement, steadily improving the environment for innovation. According to the Global Innovation Index 2025 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), China climbed to 10th place globally, entering the top ten for the first time.

To further elevate the level of IP protection, the Plan proposes:

• Continuously improving the system of punitive damages for IP infringement;

• Preventing and combating frivolous litigation, malicious lawsuits, and misuse of IP rights in the IP field;

• Focusing on key products, key areas, key markets, and key links, and carrying out ongoing special campaigns against IP infringement and counterfeiting.

Regarding the strengthening of foreign-related IP protection, the Plan calls for building a database of foreign-related IP dispute cases, and encouraging chambers of commerce, industry associations, cross-border e-commerce platforms, and other organizations to set up foreign-related IP rights protection and assistance platforms.

These measures outline a new blueprint for IP protection during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, enabling various innovation entities to unleash their innovative vitality in a more stable and equitable environment.

Promoting Commercialization: Turning "Patents on Paper" into "Real Dividends"

The commercialization and application of IP serve as a bridge and link between innovation and the market, transforming scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces.

As of the end of June this year, China held 2.36 million high-value invention patents, with 16.8 high-value invention patents per 10,000 population. A substantial number of high-value patents have already been accumulated in fields such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and new energy vehicles.

However, the industrialization rate of patents from universities and research institutions remains relatively low, and the patent commercialization capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises are also weak. There is still a gap between the actual effectiveness of IP utilization and societal expectations.

The Plan sets an indicative target of more than 22 high-value invention patents per 10,000 population by 2030, and outlines a series of measures to foster a sound ecosystem for IP commercialization, deepen the reform of IP equity distribution, and actively and prudently develop IP finance.

Specific initiatives include:

• Leveraging university-regional technology transfer centers to better align university patents and other scientific achievements with enterprise needs;

• Actively promoting models such as "use-before-pay" and "transfer-before-equitization" for high-risk or hard-to-commercialize patent technologies;

• Fully implementing the patent open-licensing system.

Over the next five years, the benefits of IP utilization will be further unleashed.

Prioritizing Innovation: Seizing the "First-Mover Advantage" in New Tracks

In the face of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, how should we respond to the characteristics and protection needs of technological innovation?

The Plan proposes:

• Improving rules for IP protection related to algorithms, AI-generated content, and the development of platform economies;

• Cultivating and mining high-value patents and patent portfolios around key core technologies in strategic areas;

• Strengthening copyright services and safeguards for new technologies and emerging industries such as blockchain, big data, cloud computing, and AI.

For example, under the "Bidirectional Empowerment Project for Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence," the Plan sets out multiple measures both to promote AI technological innovation through IP and to enhance AI application in the IP field.

On the international front, the Plan calls for in-depth research and participation in the formulation of international IP rules and standards in emerging fields such as AI, big data, and green and low-carbon technologies.

By seizing development opportunities in emerging fields, the Plan's deployments will inject new vitality, provide new drivers, and create new advantages for high-quality economic development.

Following this five-year "construction blueprint," China's IP creation, protection, utilization, management, services, and international cooperation will reach new heights, paving a solid development path toward building a world-class powerhouse in intellectual property with Chinese characteristics.