On December 11, 2012, the Equipment Industry Division and the Science and Technology Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly released the "Patent Situation Report 2012 in the Equipment Manufacturing Field." The report focused on five key areas: machine tools, seals, commercial aviation turbofan engine cores, ships, and offshore drilling platforms. It aimed to conduct an early warning analysis of the patent situation in these critical sectors.
Strengthening early warning analysis is essential for driving the equipment manufacturing industry forward. Zhang Zhicheng, Deputy Director of the Department of Protection and Coordination at the State Intellectual Property Office, highlighted that intellectual property plays a central role in promoting industrial development and enhancing competitiveness.
The report revealed that from 1985 to 2011, China's equipment manufacturing patent applications went through three distinct phases. During the Seventh Five-Year Plan period, the number of applications grew rapidly, with an average annual increase of 30%. The Eighth and Ninth Five-Year Plans saw slower growth, at 7.9% and 16% respectively. However, during the Tenth and Eleventh Five-Year Plans, the industry entered a period of rapid expansion, with average annual growth rates of 20.2% and 28.1%.
After 2009, the growth rate of equipment manufacturing patent applications accelerated significantly. In 2010, the number exceeded 350,000, rising to 432,000 in 2011—an increase of 24.37%, accounting for 26.5% of all patent applications. By 2011, the number of invention patent applications reached 154,000, up 20.68% year-on-year, making up 29.3% of total invention patent applications. This shows that China's equipment manufacturing sector has become the largest contributor to patent applications in the industrial field.
From a development perspective, the number of patent applications between 2005 and 2011 closely mirrored changes in the total industrial output value of the equipment manufacturing sector. The industry accounted for nearly one-third of all patent applications in China, both in terms of quantity and invention patents, indicating its strong innovation capacity and growing influence.
Looking at key industries, invention patent applications were concentrated in electrical and electronic equipment, instrumentation, petrochemical general equipment, automobiles, and machine tools. Industries with high patent density—such as food packaging and tobacco machinery, printing machinery, instrumentation, and metal products manufacturing—showed strong technical capabilities and innovation potential. In contrast, the electrical and petrochemical general equipment industry had medium patent density, suggesting weaker technological content. Meanwhile, the automobile and railway transportation equipment sectors showed low patent density, indicating that core technologies remain under foreign control.
Despite being a major player in patent applications, China’s equipment manufacturing industry still lags behind in overall quality compared to international competitors. Experts emphasize that improving early warning systems and leveraging reports like this can help drive further development.
Chen Qi, Dean of the China Shipbuilding Industry Comprehensive Technology and Economic Research Institute, noted that releasing patent information in key areas supports broader technological innovation and intellectual property synergy. This approach is vital for guiding industrial progress and boosting technology-intensive sectors.
The number of patents is closely tied to the technical level of an industry. According to the report, the number and quality of patent applications in China's equipment manufacturing sector are positively correlated with the level of technological development. For instance, the machine tool industry has seen a significant rise in patent applications since 2006, reflecting improved R&D capabilities and increased awareness of intellectual property protection.
However, challenges remain. While the number of applications in the machine tool sector exceeds 30% annually, the quality is still low, with many components relying on foreign technology. Similarly, the seal industry, though showing rapid growth after 2005, still faces issues with low technical standards and a large gap compared to global leaders.
In the aero-engine compressor sector, patent applications rose sharply after 2002, but most were filed by foreign companies. Domestic efforts remain limited, highlighting the need for stronger IP protection in this strategic area.
Shipyards have shown strong patent growth, with domestic applications dominating. As international competition intensifies, Chinese firms are increasingly focusing on IP strategies to protect their innovations.
Offshore drilling platforms, a strategic emerging industry, have also seen rapid patent growth. China now ranks third globally in this field, showing promising progress.
Despite the surge in patent numbers, the quality remains a concern. In 2011, while China accounted for 46.23% of global patent applications, only 4.18% were high-quality PCT patents. In the seal industry, utility models dominate, with invention patents declining in proportion over time.
Overall, while China has made significant strides in patent creation, there is still room for improvement in terms of quality, technical depth, and global competitiveness. Strengthening intellectual property management and fostering innovation will be crucial for the long-term success of the equipment manufacturing industry.
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