Pooling Expertise to Navigate Change and Embrace New Opportunities | CANTOOP Team Attends the 15th China Intellectual Property Annual Conference, Gaining Insights into Structural Changes in the IP Industry

2026-09-10

From September 8 to 9, the 15th China Intellectual Property Annual Conference was held in Beijing under the theme “Striving to Promote High-Quality Development of Intellectual Property during the 15th Five-Year Plan Period.” The conference brought together more than 8,000 representatives from government authorities, research institutions, enterprises, and intellectual property service organizations from China and abroad.

The conference featured one main forum, 13 specialized sub-forums, and more than 20 supporting business-matching and networking activities. CANTOOP was represented by a team led by Yuan Xi, Director of the Business Development Department, which actively participated in the main forum, specialized sessions, and extensive exchanges with domestic and overseas IP service organizations.

The opening ceremony delivered a clear policy message: China’s intellectual property agenda is shifting comprehensively from quantitative growth toward higher quality and greater economic and social impact, with a particular focus on cultivating high-value patents, commercializing scientific and technological achievements, strengthening overseas IP protection for small and medium-sized enterprises, and reinforcing punitive damages for infringement.

The latest IP statistics were also released at the conference. As of the end of July 2026, the number of valid domestic invention patents reached 5.667 million, including 2.36 million high-value invention patents. China has also ranked first globally in the number of PCT international patent applications for seven consecutive years.

Three major topics emerged as key areas of discussion during the conference: the transition period for the newly revised Trademark Law, intellectual property governance in the era of artificial intelligence, and patent commercialization and open licensing.

At the same time, the industry is undergoing significant structural transformation. AI tools are becoming deeply integrated across the entire IP service value chain; emerging markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America are driving rapidly growing demand for cross-border IP services; and corporate clients are moving beyond the traditional goal of simply obtaining patent grants toward integrated solutions covering risk management, global IP portfolio planning, and the optimization and revitalization of IP assets.

During the conference, the CANTOOP team made full use of various networking opportunities, including the overseas business-matching area, informal exchanges during sub-forum breaks, and specialized supply-and-demand matchmaking sessions. The team held multiple face-to-face discussions with representatives of IP law firms, IP agencies, and industry organizations from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and other regions.

Through these exchanges, the parties explored potential cooperation in areas including cross-border business coordination, case referrals, information sharing, and joint IP services for Chinese enterprises expanding overseas.

Overseas counterparts shared insights into the latest local policy developments, examination practices, and industry-specific IP needs in their respective markets. In return, CANTOOP introduced the practical challenges faced by Chinese technology-driven and manufacturing enterprises expanding globally. Discussions focused on common needs such as simultaneous IP portfolio development across multiple markets, cost control for patent assets, and early-stage risk prevention, with the aim of establishing more efficient and coordinated cross-border service mechanisms.

As an increasing number of Chinese enterprises expand into global markets, a model in which services are provided independently on a country-by-country basis is becoming increasingly insufficient to address the comprehensive needs of enterprises seeking “one business, multiple markets.”

By establishing communication channels and cooperation mechanisms with IP professionals across multiple countries and regions, CANTOOP will further strengthen and expand its international service collaboration network. This will enable CANTOOP to better connect domestic and overseas service resources, facilitate efficient coordination across jurisdictions, and provide clients with coherent, practical, and globally oriented IP solutions. These efforts will help Chinese enterprises navigate IP compliance and competitive challenges across different markets more effectively.

Moving forward, CANTOOP will translate the policy guidance and industry insights gained from the Annual Conference into practical business initiatives. Guided by the principle of high-quality development, CANTOOP will continue to place professional judgment at the core while leveraging AI technologies, further enhancing its end-to-end capabilities in cross-border IP portfolio planning, risk management, and patent asset operations.

Through tailored intellectual property solutions, CANTOOP is committed to helping innovative enterprises maximize the value of their IP assets while providing sustained support for technological innovation, R&D, and global business expansion.