By LI Linxu

In its latest move to build an intellectual property (IP) powerhouse, China is attaching increasing importance to talent development.

By 2025, the number of IP professionals in China is expected to reach one million from about seven hundred thousand today, according to a document released by China National Intellectual Property Administration.

The building of China National Intellectual Property Administration. (PHOTO: VCG)

The document, titled the 14th Five-Year Plan for Intellectual Property Talents, details the country's goals and tasks for the development of IP talents during the period of 2021-2025.

As the first resource for IP undertakings, talent is essential to its high-quality development.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, significant progress has been made in the talent development of IP, not only in an ever-increasing quantity but also a continuously improving quality.

In the new Five-Year Plan period, China is aiming to fully integrate the talent resources, enhance the use efficiency, and improve the evaluation and incentive mechanism so as to meet the various needs.

By 2025, the number of practicing patent attorneys is expected to increase to 40,000. About 30 training bases and five academies/research institutes will be set up by 2025, according to the plan.

It puts forward a series of key programs, such as a training base construction program, e-learning course development program, building a talent hub, and expert and talent base building program.

Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are being promoted as future hubs for IP.

The plan calls for accelerating the development of internationalized talent and uplifting the international cooperation of IP to a new level.

A special cultivation program for internationalized talent will be implemented, and international training programs will be actively expanded, according to the plan.

To meet an increasing need for international negotiation expertise and overseas rights protection, the knowledge update will be accelerated, and the study of international rules and regulations will be enhanced, says the plan.

International cooperation is also greatly emphasized. It proposes providing a practicing platform, through international cooperation programs, offered by bilateral or multilateral mechanisms such as the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Five IP Offices, and BRICS IP Offices.