In 2019, under the leadership of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, Jiangsu fully implemented the Outline of the National Intellectual Property Strategy and the Outline of Jiangsu Intellectual Property Strategy. Institutional reforms were advanced across the board with a premium on innovative development to jointly improve business environment. Jiangsu achieved generally stable growth while making further progress and gained a head start in many areas, such as the creation, protection and use of intellectual property

I. Successful Reform of the Intellectual Property Management System

In accordance with the decisions and plans made by the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, Jiangsu deepened the reform of the intellectual property (IP) management system and improved the functions, compositions and personnel of the provincial IP system. Jiangsu restructured the IP management system and operational mechanism on a historic scale, building up a solid base for the modernization of the system and the capacity for intellectual property governance.

1. Cross-provincial cooperation on intellectual property was enhanced. Jiangsu adjusted the Leading Group for the Implementation of Jiangsu Intellectual Property and Trademark Strategy in the first place, with an increase of membership from 28 to 33. Having established a working system of regular meeting and consultation and cooperation, the Leading Group held its first meeting in March 2019 to push forward coordinated development.

2. Management and law enforcement at provincial, municipal and county levels were reinforced. IP institutions at provincial, municipal and county levels have undergone thorough reforms to align with state-level IP institutions in functions and compositions. The functions, budgeted posts and personnel of the Intellectual Property Office of Jiangsu Province were increased. The local administrations for market regulation of 96 counties (county-level cities, districts) from 13 prefecture-level cities were entrusted with a new role of local intellectual property office. The number of intellectual property administrators at municipal and county-level rose up from 435 to 730, a 67.82% increase.

3. The efficiency of service system expansion and upgrade increased. Jiangsu sped up the integration of IP management elements, such as patent, trademark and geographical indications, fitting the management function of patent, trademark and geographical indications into IP planning, creation, use, protection and services, thus restructuring its IP service system. Jiangsu achieved the synergy among policies and measures, plans and projects and work platforms, broke down the information silos regarding patent, trademark and geographical indications, completed the migration of trademark and brand data system and realized information and resource sharing among market players. Service counters for trademark affairs were set up to provide one-stop services.

II. Steady Progress in Building a Leading Province of IP

1. The construction of a powerful intellectual property pilot province made notable achievements. Jiangsu accomplished the annual key tasks set out in the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government-China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) Consultation Meeting. Substantive progress was made in building a leading-edge and powerful intellectual property pilot province whose comprehensive strength ranks among the best in China. The Leading Group for the Implementation of Jiangsu Intellectual Property and Trademark Strategy issued Jiangsu’s Work Plan for Building a Powerful Intellectual Property Province in 2019. All member units, in their respective roles, joined hands to push forward its implementation. The Intellectual Property Office of Jiangsu Province took active steps to explore the new experience of operating the new system and mechanism. A batch of pilot reforms, such as infringement dispute inspection and authentication, approval of the use of geographical indications, were conducted. Three types of typical experience, such as high-value patent cultivation, were extended nationwide. The number of standardized markets, advantage enterprises and pilot demonstration parks for IP protection and the number of IP pledge financing projects ranked the top in China. The number of patents per 10,000 people ranked first domestically. 113 patents were honored at the 21st WIPO-CNIPA Awards for Chinese Outstanding Patented Invention & Industrial Design, a new record high. Jiangsu Provincial High People’s Court conducted a special research session centered on the most stringent judicial protection of intellectual property, held seminars on the theme of “Implement the most stringent judicial protection of intellectual property to promote innovative development”, and issued Guiding Opinions on Implementing the Most Stringent Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property to Provide Judicial Guarantee for High-Quality Development, which set out 36 specific measures. The People’s Procuratorate of Jiangsu Province issued the Implementation Opinions on Strengthening Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property by Jiangsu Procuratorial Organs to Serve Scientific Innovation, demanding procuratorial organs at all levels provide comprehensive protection for the intellectual property of private enterprises in an impartial and lawful manner. Jiangsu Provincial Copyright Administration successfully hosted the Second Jiangsu (Nanjing) Copyright Trade Expo and pushed Wujiang’s silk industry to develop a demonstration site qualified for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s excellent case study on copyright protection. Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education pushed forward the implementation of intellectual property standards in seven universities in 2019. Based on the actual demand of Jiangsu’s intellectual property system, Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education helped establish Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Intellectual Property (Soochow University) and Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Technology Transfer (Changzhou University). Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology fully played its leading role in science and technology programs, deploying preliminary examination in the review of the transformation of provincial scientific and technical achievements, clarifying the requirements for independent intellectual property in the application and evaluation of key provincial research and development programs (industry outlook and key technologies). Jiangsu Provincial Public Security Department mounted the well-organized "Operation Escort" aimed at intellectual property protection and steadily progressed on the special action “Cloud 2019”, both yielding notable achievements. Jiangsu Provincial Department of Justice launched a series of specialized legal services, such as the "Enterprise-Law Firm Match" and the "Legal Examination for Private Enterprises", to offer enterprises legal opinions on intellectual property protection and extend legal education on this matter. Jiangsu Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs carried out a provincial census on agricultural products with regional characteristics and developed a phased cultivation mechanism oriented toward industry development and brand building to develop reserve forces for the registration of geographical indications for agricultural products. Jiangsu Provincial Local Financial Supervision Administration was actively involved in intellectual property pledge financing, pushing financing guarantee institutions to launch innovative intellectual property financial products and business, such as “Zhi Bao Tong” and “Ke Zhi Bao”. Nanjing Customs successfully adjusted the functions and composition of its intellectual property protection division, severely cracked down on import and export of infringing goods, and actively launched the operation “Rising Dragon 2019” across the customs district.

2. The construction of leading cities of IP developed distinctive features. Attaching great importance to intellectual property, all prefecture-level cities strove to build IP-related competency according to their local circumstances and took innovative steps, resulting in various practices with local characteristics. As part of the effort to establish an Intellectual Property Financial Innovation Center, Nanjing’s intellectual property operations service system characterized by “one core, two wings and multiple platforms” was highly evaluated by the CNIPA. Having issued the Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Grassroots Intellectual Property System, Wuxi was enlisted as one of the key cities for the construction of the national intellectual property operation service system. The “1+3+5+N” plan for intellectual property work put in place by Xuzhou helped upgrade local intellectual property efforts. In terms of patent administrative law enforcement performance, Changzhou ranked fifth among the 158 sub-provincial cities and the top among prefecture-level cities. Suzhou, China’s first prefecture-level city to establish an Intellectual Property Operations Guidance Fund, saw its incubated enterprises listed on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board. Nantong launched Zhi Lian Qiao, an overseas intellectual property service platform, to support enterprises in “going global”. Lianyungang Intellectual Property Office and local customs signed a Memorandum on Strengthening Intellectual Property Protection in Import and Export to jointly promote intellectual property protection in the free trade area. Huai’an had 126 geographical indication trademarks, the highest number in China. Yancheng was granted the title of “National Intellectual Property Demonstration City” and further promoted the upgrade in implementing intellectual property strategies. Yangzhou established a system under which major matters concerning intellectual property are reported on a monthly basis, and upgraded its early warning of and response to international intellectual property disputes for enterprises. Zhenjiang was the first in China to establish a salon exclusively for intellectual property advantage enterprises, thus building up a communication platform for technical innovation and intellectual property services. Taizhou spearheaded patent standardization pilots to promote the integration of patents and standards. Suqian saw its first National Intellectual Property Demonstration Enterprise this year.

III. Stable Growth of Intellectual Property Creation with Good Momentum.

1. Trademark application and registration. In 2019, Jiangsu received 495,166 applications for trademark registration and saw 407,715 registrations and 1,582,236 valid registered trademarks; it also recorded 838 applications for international trademark registration under the Madrid System. The numbers of both applications and registrations increased steadily.

Trademark application. In 2019, Jiangsu recorded 495,166 applications for trademark registration, up 2.09% YoY.

Trademark Applications by Region in Jiangsu in 2019

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Trademark registration. In 2019, Jiangsu recorded 407,715 trademark registrations, up 25.67% YoY.

Trademark Registrations by Region in Jiangsu in 2019

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International trademark registration under the Madrid System. In 2019, Jiangsu recorded 838 applications for international trademark registration under the Madrid System, up 3.71% YoY.

International Trademark Registration Under the Madrid System by Region in Jiangsu in 2019

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2. Patent application, granting and ownership. In 2019, Jiangsu recorded 594,249 patent applications and 6,635 PCT applications, and granted 314,395 patents, registering 30.16 invention patents per 10,000 people. Patent applications submitted by enterprises and patents granted to enterprises accounted for 79.34% and 79.35%, an increase of 6.44% and 2.27% compared to late 2018 respectively. The structure was further improved.

Invention Patent Applications and Grants in Jiangsu 2010-2019

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Patent application. In 2019, the number of patent applications decreased by 1.01% to 594,249 in Jiangsu. In terms of patent type, the number of invention patents amounted to 172,409, down 13.28% YoY, accounting for 29.01% of the total patent applications. Utility model patents registered a year-on-year growth of 27% to 373,495, accounting for 62.85% of the total patent applications. The number of design patent applications plunged 54.99% year-on-year to 48,345, accounting for 8.14% of the total patent applications.

Patent Applications by Region in Jiangsu in 2019

Invention Patent Applications by Region in Jiangsu in 2019

Patent granting. The number of granted patents in 2019 stood at 314,395, with a year-on-year growth of 2.41%. In terms of patent type, invention patents granted numbered 39,681, down 5.56% YoY, accounting for 12.62% of the total patents granted; utility model patents granted numbered 233,114, up 16.36% YoY, accounting for 74.15% of the total; and design patents granted numbered 41,600, down 35.65%, accounting for 13.23% of the total.

Patent Grants by Region in Jiangsu in 2019

Invention Patent Grants by Region in Jiangsu in 2019

PCT applications. In 2019, Jiangsu submitted 6,635 PCT applications, an increase of 20.64% year-on-year.

PCT Applications by Region in Jiangsu in 2019

Invention patent ownership. As of the end of 2019, there were 242,803 invention patents in Jiangsu. Among them,175,680 were owned by enterprises, accounting for 72.35% of the total; 47,556 were owned by colleges and universities, accounting for 19.59% of the total; 7,697 were owned by research institutions, accounting for 3.17% of the total; 8,641 were owned by individuals, accounting for 3.56% of the total; and 3,229 were owned by government agencies, accounting for 1.33% of the total. The number of invention patents per 10,000 people reached 30.16, 3.71 more compared to the last year.

Valid Invention Patents by Subject of Rights in Jiangsu as of Late 2019

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Statistics on Invention Patents Per 10,000 People by Region in Jiangsu as of Late December 2019

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Note: 1. Source of total population: Jiangsu Statistical Yearbook 2019

2. * refers to data provided by CNIPA that cannot be classified.

3. Geographical indications registration. In 2019, a total of 26 geographical indication trademarks and 18 geographical indications for agricultural products were registered in Jiangsu. As of late December 2019, Jiangsu had a cumulative number of 324 registered geographical indication trademarks, 91 valid geographical indications and 79 geographical indications for protection of agricultural products.

Statistics on Geographical Indications Across Prefecture-Level Cities in Jiangsu

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4. Copyright registration, certification and contract filing. In 2019, Jiangsu recorded 246,607 registered copyrights, up 18.39% YoY, and 12,470 registrants, up 35.19% YoY. The quality of registered works and registrants’ enthusiasm further improved. Jiangsu completed 1,116 copyright contract registrations, of which 730 were copyrighted book introduction contracts, 25 were certifications for e-publication copyrights and 361 were filings for assignment and licensing of copyrights of general works.

5. Plant variety rights application and granting. As of late December 2019, Jiangsu recorded a cumulative number of applications for 1,694 plant variety rights, 909 of which were granted.

IV. Diversified Utilization of Intellectual Property Rights

1. Transaction volume of intellectual property rights continued to rise. Jiangsu completed 49,622 intellectual property technology contracts in 2019, with a turnover of RMB 167.559 billion, up 45.37% year on year; and registered the transfer of 30,062 patents, taking the third place in China, among which 2,673 patents were transferred by colleges and universities, ranking first across the country.

2. Breakthroughs were achieved in intellectual property financing. Innovation promoted the application of intellectual property big data in the financial sector, and 56 banks, 12 financing guarantee institutions and 27 financial investment institutions in the province provided intellectual property-related financial services. The "Internet + intellectual property" pledge financing model was first introduced in China, and the province raised RMB 8.86 billion through pledge of patent and trademark rights, with the largest number of financing enterprises in the country. The first insurance policy against trademark infringement in China was signed in Jiangsu.

3. Patent analysis showed a good navigation effect. Patent landscape analysis was carried out in 13 advanced manufacturing clusters, and patent early-warning analysis was launched around six core and key technologies like chip design, providing important decision-making references for relevant government departments. The Implementation plan for regional layout of intellectual property in Jiangsu Province in 2019 was formulated. Relying on the (Jiangsu) research base for the national pilot project on patent navigation and Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, the provincial intellectual property regional layout project was implemented in 2019. Two parks and two key industries were selected to carry out the analysis and research on the regional layout of intellectual property.

V. Promotion of Best Intellectual Property Protection in Multiple Dimensions

1. Legal system building carries forward orderly. The Regulations on Promotion of the Intellectual Property Rights in Jiangsu Province was drafted after a survey and review and was included in the legislative research projects of the Provincial People's Congress for 2020. In line with the Opinions on Strengthening Intellectual Property Protection (Central File No. 56 (2019)) issued by the General Office of CCCPC and the General Office of the State Council, Jiangsu drafted its Implementation Opinions on Strengthening Intellectual Property Protection, and submitted the draft to the CPC Provincial Committee and People’s Government for deliberation after extensive opinion solicitation and repeated modifications.

2. An integrated law enforcement system was basically in place. An administrative law enforcement system for patents, trademarks and geographical indications affairs at the provincial, municipal and county levels was established; the Patent and Trademark Administrative Law Enforcement Procedures of Jiangsu Province and the Patent and Trademark Administrative Law Enforcement Practices were compiled; professional training of intellectual property law enforcement personnel was conducted, and 376 patent administrative law enforcement certificates were newly issued in the province. 

3. Administrative law enforcement delivered a strong deterrent force. The Intellectual Property Office of Jiangsu Province launched a number of special actions such as “Dual Crackdowns”, “Iron Fist” and geographical indication protection across the province, cities and counties. A total of 2,558 trademark violations were investigated and handled in 2019, involving fines and forfeitures valued at RMB 48.0797 million; a total of 4,352 fake patent cases were investigated and 3,511 patent infringement disputes were handled, remaining atop across the country. Three cases were made into the list of the Top Ten Typical Patent and Trademark Cases in China. The inspection on patent authenticity, which featured random selection of targets and law enforcement inspectors and publication of inspection results, was carried out. In this operation, 28,256 patented products were inspected, 101 cases were investigated and dealt with, and 153 enterprises were ordered to make rectification. Based on the operation “Rising Dragon 2019”, Nanjing Customs deployed more law enforcement forces and resources across all customs houses in the customs district, further sharpening its deterrent force. As of the end of December 2019, Nanjing Customs had investigated 232 suspected cases of infringement and seized 7,641 batches of goods suspected of infringement, involving 20.2633 million pieces of goods valued at RMB 10.1038 million. Jiangsu Provincial Bureau of Press and Publication, Jiangsu Internet Information Office and Jiangsu Communications Administration jointly developed the Implementation Plan for the Special Action “Cybersword” Against Online Copyright Infringement of Jiangsu Province in 2019, seeking to crack down on copyright infringement and piracy from the five aspects of copyright protection for integrative media development, regulation of network copyright of theatrical film, hardware and software copyright supervision of streaming media, copyright operations order of the image market, and consolidation of governance achievements in key network areas. A total of 303 patent infringement and privacy cases, including 141 administrative penalties, were registered in the province in 2019, with fines and forfeitures amounting to over RMB 2.3 million. There were 47 criminal cases and 115 mediation cases. Jiangsu Provincial Public Security Department launched the “Operation Escort” on intellectual property protection and made steady progress in the special action dubbed “Cloud 2019”. By the end of December 2019, the public security organs of the province had investigated and dealt with 2,867 infringement and counterfeiting cases, solved 1,877 cases, arrested 6,210 suspects and destroyed 772 counterfeiting sites, involving a value of more than RMB 2.58 billion. The Ministry of Public Security sent three congratulatory messages for praise and recognition.

4. Judicial protection was strengthened. Guidance on intellectual property trial was strengthened. The Guidelines on Sentencing for Intellectual Property Crimes (Trial) and the Top Ten Typical Cases were released, which provided reference gist for further implementing the concept of the strictest judicial protection of intellectual property rights, strengthening criminal judicial protection of intellectual property rights, and standardizing the criminal discretion and sentencing criterion in the trial of intellectual property criminal cases. The handling of intellectual property cases was strengthened. Courts across the province accepted a total of 20,249 intellectual property cases in 2019, up 1.56% year on year. Among them, 19,503 were civil cases, 717 were criminal cases and 29 were administrative cases. A total of 17,706 cases were concluded, up 4.6% year on year, including 17,123 civil cases, 557 criminal cases and 26 administrative cases. The procuratorial organs in the province approved the arrest of 527 people in 318 intellectual property right infringement cases in 2019, and prosecuted 1,340 people in 540 cases, among which 212 people were arrested in 125 counterfeiting registered trademark cases, and 574 people were prosecuted in 240 cases. A total of 224 people were arrested in 148 cases of selling counterfeit registered trademarks, and 601 people were prosecuted in 242 cases. A total of 30 people in 17 cases of illegally manufacturing or selling illegally manufactured trademarks were arrested under approval, and 113 people were prosecuted in 35 cases. A total of 58 people in 26 copyright infringement cases were arrested under approval, and 45 people were prosecuted in 20 cases. Three people in two commercial secret infringement cases were arrested under approval, and seven people were prosecuted in three cases. Punitive damages increased to add to the deterrent effect. The provincial courts awarded damages of RMB 500,000 to RMB 3 million in 147 civil cases concerning intellectual property rights in the first instance, RMB 3 million to RMB 5 million in 13 cases, RMB 5 million to RMB 10 million in five cases, and more than RMB 10 million in four cases in 2019.

5. Protection cooperation in multiple levels makes its mark. The leading group office for implementation of the intellectual property and trademark strategy of Jiangsu Province led the signing of the Agreement on Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta Region, and signed the Agreement on Administrative Protection of Intellectual Property with 12 provinces and municipalities including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanghai and Zhejiang. The intellectual property division of the provincial people's court and the intellectual property division of the High People's Courts in Shanghai, Zhejiang and Anhui jointly signed the Exchange and Cooperation Agreement on Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property Rights of the People's Courts in the Yangtze River Delta Region. The Intellectual Property Office of Jiangsu Province, the Provincial Public Security Department, the Provincial People's Court and Nanjing Intellectual Property Court established a regular mechanism for cooperation, discussion and exchanges in case handling.

6. The construction of protection centers achieved notable results. Changzhou Intellectual Property Protection Center was promoted to the level of deputy department, while Nanjing Intellectual Property Protection Center added a new review channel for the biomedicine industry. Suzhou Intellectual Property Protection Center came into service. The construction of Xuzhou Property Protection Center and Nantong Property Protection Center has been on the right track. The provincial intellectual property protection center entered the application procedure. Two national quick rights protection centers, eight national rights protection assistance centers and its 55 branches across the province have basically completed the transfer of functions, realizing smooth transition. Various intellectual property right protection institutions provided 6,164 consulting services to society, accepted 177 applications for assistance in safeguarding rights, handled 128 disputes, and referred 321 complaint cases.

VI. Improvement of Enterprises in Intellectual Property Work

1. Enterprise development driven by intellectual property has been advanced. The action plan on driving enterprise development by intellectual property was adjusted and improved, and integrated training, instructions and services on patent, trademark and geographical indication were carried out for key enterprises, high-tech enterprises, and private technology enterprises in industrial clusters. A total of 2,026 intellectual property management enterprises in the province were newly recognized for implementing the Intellectual property management standards, and 71 enterprises carried forward the provincial intellectual property strategy. There were also 57 national intellectual property demonstration enterprises and 174 competitive enterprises.

2. High-value patent cultivation formed a system. A total of 48 provincial and 141 municipal and county-level high-value patent cultivation demonstration centers were built, marking that a high-value patent cultivation system that covered the entire province was basically in shape. Among them, the completed provincial high-value patent cultivation demonstration center produced more than 600 PCT patents, participated in the development or formulated almost 200 national and industry standards, and the sales revenue of patented products reached more than RMB 82 billion.

3. Export enterprises were highlighted in cultivation. On the basis of the operation “Rising Dragon”, Nanjing Customs re-confirmed production, R&D enterprises and enterprises with core competitiveness enlisted in the operation, which were exposed to high risk of infringement or suffered from infringement in the international market, and selected new enterprises into the operation. By the end of December 2019, a total of 22 key enterprises in the province had participated in the “Rising Dragon 2019” operation, marking an increase of seven enterprises from a year ago.

VII. Higher Quality and Efficiency of Intellectual Property Service

1. Public services were of high quality and efficiency. Information resources regarding trademarks, patents, geographical indications and enterprise registration were effectively integrated, and the number of trademark acceptance windows in the province increased from four to seven. Two Technology and Innovation Support Centers of the WIPO, one National University Intellectual Property Information Service Center and 11 University Library Patent Information Dissemination and Utilization Bases were under accelerated development. The Collaborative Patent Examination Center in Jiangsu concluded 193,000 cases, retaining its first place in the country. Nanjing Patent Agency and its branch office in Suzhou accepted a total of 131,000 patent applications throughout the year, and 98.67% of patent applications were handled online. The acceptance period of patent application in paper was shortened from four working days to two. The review time for patent fee reduction and filing was reduced from 25 calendar days to five. No mistake was found in any service, and the window service recorded zero complaint.

2. Social services featured standardized development. The training on standard implementation and practice norms was launched for patent agencies across the province; guidelines on interviews about irregularities, complaint acceptance and administrative penalties were formulated for patent agencies; the reform to separate operating permits and business licenses was implemented, and the mechanism of “notification of requirements and commitment to compliance” was established among patent agencies in China (Jiangsu) Pilot Free Trade Zone. There were 130 new patent agencies and branches across the province in 2019, totaling 459.

3. Service supervision made steady headway. A survey of the patent agency industry was launched; a special rectification action dubbed “Blue Sky” was carried out; and the “Internet + supervision” system was enabled. Patent agencies were instructed to carry out self-inspection across the board and make credit commitment. A total of 316 agencies and 1,336 patent agents signed the credit commitment. A total of 843 illegal acts in the patent agency industry were verified and investigated throughout the year, 111 patent agencies were summoned for interview, 114 were ordered to make rectifications, 10 received site inspection and two were included in the list of abnormal operations. A total of eight cases were filed in the province, among which four were closed and four registered penalties of RMB 502,400.

VIII. Positive Effect of Intellectual Property Publicity and Talent Training

1. Publicity work showed highlights. In line with the “70th Anniversary Celebration of the People’s Republic of China”, the World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, and the issuance and implementation of the Trademark Act and the Opinions on Strengthening the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, Jiangsu stepped up efforts in publicity planning and policy interpretation and launched themed publicity campaigns. The White Paper on Development and Protection of Intellectual Property Rights in Jiangsu and the Ten Typical Cases of Intellectual Property were released. The press conference on the tenth anniversary of the “Three-in-one” reform of intellectual property trial was held and the main measures adopted by Jiangsu Province in the reform and the achievements made in the past decade were announced. A public survey, titled “My favorite trademark brand in Jiangsu”, was launched; exchange and promotion activities on intellectual property protection, the first of its kind in China, were hosted; the national special mark for geographical indication was released for the first time in Nanjing, thereby creating an intellectual property culture of “Respecting knowledge, encouraging innovation, and fostering honesty”.

2. Talent training achieved tangible results. Over 2,500 senior executives and 2,700 intellectual property engineers were trained throughout the year, and the training satisfaction rating reached 95%. A total of 36 people with senior titles in intellectual property were selected, bringing the total number to 276. The School of Intellectual Property of Nanjing University of Science & Technology enrolled 131 master's and doctoral students in intellectual property, doubling the number of a year ago. The passing rate of the pre-exam training class for patent agents reached 61%, ranking top in China. Training for front-line law enforcement personnel was basically completed.

IX. Further Expansion and Development of International Exchanges and Cooperation on Intellectual Property

1. Exchanges and visits were conducted in a friendly manner. Personnel from the provincial intellectual property system were sent to the US, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Czech Republic, Russia and the Republic of Belarus in four batches for learning exchange and business training. Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) successively visited the province and reached consensus on deepening cooperation.

2. International cooperation reached a new level. The province secured the successful launch of the 13th Conference of Heads of Offices between the China National Intellectual Property Administration and the European Patent Office, receiving the letter of thanks from the CNIPA and EPO. The 6th UK-China Copyright Seminar was hosted to discuss and promote international copyright exchanges and cooperation. A host of important events including the 15th China (Wuxi) International Design Expo, the 4th Zijin International IP Summit and China (Suzhou) International Brand Expo 2019 were successfully held. Head of the EPO, President of the Association for Industrial Design of Italy, Justin Yifu Lin and other well-known experts from home and abroad were invited to visit and join exchanges in Jiangsu. The award ceremony for the Design Award of WIPO-CNIPA Awards for Chinese Outstanding Patented Invention & Industrial Design settled in Wuxi, and the Yangtze River Delta New Structural Economics Intellectual Property Research Institute was established in Nanjing. Jiangsu Provincial Bureau of Press and Publication, China National Copyright Administration and the WIPO signed a project cooperation agreement to jointly launch the survey on the demonstration site (Wujiang silk industry) for WIPO excellent copyright protection case study.

3. Foreign rights protection efforts continued. The Guidelines on Application for Registration and Protection of Intellectual Property Rights of Foreign-Funded Enterprises in Jiangsu Province (2019) were revised, and the Guidelines on Intellectual Property Protection in Key “Belt and Road” Countries and the Co