In the Futian District of Shenzhen, China has opened a new national-level fast-track intellectual property protection centre to foster quick design innovation, particularly in the fashion sector. According to the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the centre will reduce the processing time for design patent applications from six months to less than three months.
Strategically located in Futian District – a hub for the fashion industry with over 2,000 fashion businesses and an industrial cluster worth Rmb120 billion (US$16.7 billion) – the new IP centre is expected to enhance China’s global competitiveness in design and fashion. It will support local small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in securing IP rights, discouraging counterfeiting and attracting talented designers.
Design patents remain a national priority for China, which approved 638,000 design patents in 2023 and dominated global design filings in 2024. The centre in Shenzhen marks the latest addition to China’s expanding network of fast-track IP rights hubs, now totalling 49 nationwide. This includes existing centres in Yiwu and Shantou that serve sectors with rapid product development cycles.
The new centre in Shenzhen is part of China’s larger plan to fortify its IP infrastructure and promote innovation in vital economic areas.
- Excel V. Dyquiangco
