Overview of Chinese University Patents
Chinese universities have experienced a significant increase in
patent activity over the past decade. The number of patent
applications filed by these institutions surged from 106,000 in
2012 to 367,000 in 2021, a remarkable growth of 246.2%.
Additionally, the number of patents granted to Chinese universities
increased from 69,000 in 2012 to 308,000 in 2021, a substantial
346.4% increase. During this period, Chinese universities
consistently held the top globally in patent applications and
grants, especially in emerging fields like semiconductor devices,
photovoltaic materials, and third-generation semiconductors.
Chinese universities have outpaced their U.S. counterparts in
patent applications. Even if you add up the annual patent
applications of the top ten U.S. university applicants, they still
fall short of the numbers from a single Chinese university.
However, despite this impressive volume of patent
