Provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) enrolled in the state Special Patent Commercialization Programme have recently been assessed by the National Intellectual Property Administration and the Ministry of Finance as to how well they have been performing in the programme. As an outstanding participant in the assessment, Fujian is selected to receive a grant from the central government to support local patent commercialization, our reporter learned from the local market supervision authority on June 27. 

In March 2021, the two state departments jointly issued a notice, i.e. A Notice on Supporting SMEs in Innovation and Growth through the Implementation of the Special Patent Commercialization Programme. According to this document, a number of selected participants would receive a grant, depending on how well they would perform in supporting SMEs in innovation and growth through aiding patent commercialization (including the transfer of patent ownership). The assessment was designed to be carried out in three consecutive years. Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hubei, Guangdong and Shaanxi were the first to be awarded the grant, while Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Hunan and Sichuan, as newly selected recipients, are scheduled to receive the grant this year.

In April 2021, the Provincial Intellectual Property Administration in conjunction with the provincial finance authority formulated and issued Fujian's Implementation Plan for Supporting SMEs in Innovation and Growth through Aiding Patent Commercialization (2021-2023). The purposes of the plan are to, among others, increase the supply channels of patent technology, help match patent sellers and buyers, and enable patent holders to commercialize their patents for greater benefits and profits. Fujian is one of the eight newly chosen provinces to receive the grant in 2022 for its performance in the patent commercialization programme. According to the rules, Fujian will receive a total of RMB 100 million in the form of a grant. The first instalment, which is RMB 50 million, has been paid recently.