'Frontier Technology, China's Practice' Symposium hosted in Beijing

On Friday morning, the World Intellectual Property Organization Office in China hosted the "Frontier Technology, China's Practice" symposium in Beijing. Over 50 attendees from enterprises, government departments, and relevant associations in the intellectual property industry participated in the event.

Representatives from more than 20 companies, including both established industry leaders and startup enterprises, delivered speeches covering a wide range of topics. These included artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, big data, as well as emerging fields like new materials and nanotechnology. The discussions highlighted the pivotal role of intellectual property in fostering innovation and showcased the significant progress made by enterprises in frontier technologies.

Liu Hua, director of the WIPO Office in China, expressed the organization's commitment to raising awareness about the power of intellectual property through firsthand experiences shared by entrepreneurs. She emphasized China's potential to lead in intellectual property and innovation, particularly in areas such as electric passenger vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar energy storage, which represent a convergence of new materials, technologies, capital, and talent.

Zhang Haibo, deputy director-general of the Department of Strategy and Planning at the Ministry of Science and Technology, underscored the importance of translating technological advancements into tangible societal benefits. He stressed the need to align technological efforts towards practical applications, highlighting the pivotal role of enterprises as drivers of innovation and productivity growth in China. "Enterprises are representatives of new productive forces and the core driving force of new productivity", he stated.

Wang Meiyun, vice-president of Henan Provincial People's Hospital, discussed advancements in treating conditions such as depression, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, and autism spectrum disorder. She outlined research efforts focused on overcoming the blood-brain barrier to enhance drug delivery and efficacy. These efforts include the use of non-invasive methods to open the barrier and precisely target areas for treatment, leading to significant improvements in therapeutic outcomes.

Yan Xin from Huawei underscored the company's unwavering commitment to research and development innovation. He highlighted Huawei's substantial R&D expenditures over the years, emphasizing the company's focus on customer-driven innovation and collaborative efforts across the industry ecosystem. Yan Xin also discussed Huawei's resilience in developing its own enterprise resource planning system after facing supply chain cutoffs, showcasing the company's agility and collaborative approach to overcoming challenges.

Guo Weinan, executive director of BYD Co., shared a story of how the company leveraged technological innovation to address supply chain constraints, particularly related to semiconductor shortages. He emphasized BYD's dedication to technological leadership and innovation since its inception, highlighting the company's ability to adapt and innovate amid challenges.

The symposium concluded with a reaffirmation of the crucial role of intellectual property, innovation, and collaboration in driving China's technological advancements and economic prosperity. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange insights, discuss challenges, and explore opportunities in leveraging frontier technologies to promote sustainable development and global competitiveness.