HKPC Becomes Hong Kong's First Institution Selected for the Establishment of a World Intellectual Property Organisation Technology and Innovation Support Centre Empowering Hong Kong as a Regional IP Trading Centre Protecting Intellectual Innovations and Boosting IP Trade Opportunities

(Hong Kong, 30 December 2024) The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) announced that the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) has been successfully selected to establish a Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) under the joint endorsement of CNIPA and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). HKPC will actively commence the establishment process with the goal of completing it by the end of 2025, promoting Hong Kong as a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre and injecting momentum into the development of new productive forces.

TISC is a significant project under the WIPO Development Agenda framework, aimed at assisting entities engaged in technological innovation to enhance their capabilities in technology information retrieval, quickly grasp industry trends and new technological information, and strengthen innovation and technologies (I&T). In April this year, the HKSAR Government recommended HKPC to CNIPA for the establishment of the first TISC in Hong Kong. This would enable more focused provision of high-quality IP information and services to local startups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs, helping the industry develop innovative potential, and create, protect, manage, and commercialise their IP, thereby better empowering the development of new productive forces.

In recent years, the global focus on IP has shifted towards Asia. As of the end of October 2024, the nation holds over 4.5 million valid invention patents, ranking first in the world. According to the WIPO’s “Global Innovation Index 2024” (GII), the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou Science and Technology cluster ranks second globally among the Top 100 Science and Technology (S&T) Cluster. The GII is based on factors such as the analysis of patent-filing and scientific article publications. Locally, the Hong Kong IP Department granted over 10,000 standard patent registrations annually from 2021 to 2023, which represent an increase of more than 50% compared to the average annual number of registrations over the previous decade, indicating a thriving upstream I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong and significant market potential for IP trading.

Ms Vivian LIN, Chief Operating Officer of HKPC, stated, "Embracing innovation and capitalising on opportunities in IP trading are key to developing new productive forces and ensuring Hong Kong's economy continues to advance towards high-quality development. We are honoured to be the first institution in Hong Kong selected for the establishment of a TISC, contributing to IP development in Hong Kong. In addition to fully supporting the Government's efforts to develop Hong Kong into an international I&T centre, HKPC is actively protecting innovative achievements. We are pleased to see the HKSAR Government continuously improving the local IP system and look forward to leveraging our cooperation with the Chinese Mainland in the IP field, as well as the advantages of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou S&T cluster, to strengthen Hong Kong's role as a regional IP trading centre under the 14th Five-Year Plan. This aligns with the national strategy to build China into an IP powerhouse and develop new productive forces. We believe that effective IP management can safeguard local inventions and brands, protect the development and design achievements of enterprises, consolidate the 'Made in Hong Kong' brand advantage, and enhance economic returns."

HKPC will actively undertake the establishment work of the TISC, as per the requirements, including site selection, hardware facilities, IP information resources, human resources development, and system construction, etc. During the establishment period, HKPC will launch TISC services and promotional activities to help the local I&T sector, as well as SMEs, better understand TISC services and IP-related information, fostering I&T talents with patent knowledge.

Since 1998, HKPC has served as the implementing agency for the Patent Application Grant (PAG) scheme and established the Intellectual Property Service Centre (IPSC), providing professional IP information and consultation services to local enterprises. By collaborating with the industry, HKPC assists Hong Kong businesses and inventors in protecting their development and design achievements, acting as a bridge for transforming technological achievements into productivity and advancing Hong Kong as an innovation hub.

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The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) announced that the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) has been successfully selected to establish a Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) under the joint endorsement of CNIPA and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).