China ranks second in the AI-related patent application.
In the looming Fourth Industrial Revolution time, patent application for core technologies is the competitiveness of the nation, while artificial intelligence (AI) technology is the most promising technology in the world.
According to a report published by Fujii Hidemichi, professor from Nagasaki University, China is making a remarkable progress in AI area. The conclusion is coincident with Astamuse’s, Japanese research firm, research focusing on the 10 major countries’ application for AI-related patents from 2010 through 2014.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO) PATENTSCOPE database, 3,592 patents on artificial intelligence were filed between 2007 and 2017 (calculated key words in the front page of the patents, as of August 2, 2017). Of those patents 1,174 were applied for in the United States; 964 in the People’s Republic of China (China); 502 in the Republic of Korea (ROK);153 in Japan and the remainder applied with PCT (the Patent Cooperation Treaty), the European Patent Office and other national/regional patent offices.
Applications were calculated in 5 years interval from 2010 through 2014. It turned out that the United States was the runaway leader with 15,317 submissions. China’s total applications were 8,410–a huge increase from 2,934 between 2005 and 2009—and Japan’s applications were 2,071 down 3 percent from 2,134 during the cited period. The tremendous increasing of China represents the biggest jump among the 10 countries and regions surveyed.
Chinese government, entrepreneurs and colleges work together to promote the growth of AI-related area.
Government, entrepreneurs and colleges work together to promote the growth of AI-related area. Chinese government aspires to surpass the U.S. in artificial intelligence, seeking to take advantage of the unique opportunities that this critical emerging technology could confer to its economic competitiveness and military capabilities. And The government offers a tons of tax bonus to the AI industry.
Chinese companies, from giants such as Alibaba and Tencent to startups such as CIB FinTech and UCloud, are building data centers as fast as they can to meet their own market needs. Besides, the tax policy also pushes them to apply for more patents.
As for college, they need the research funds to continue their research, and the AI patent is the necessary to finish the foundation.
All the works make China rich in computer power and capitals, which is essential for AI development.
Growth in AI patent ≠ Growth in AI innovation area
Although China has achieved a huge progress in AI patent applications, but it doesn’t mean China has make a big progress in AI innovation area. The inter-convertibility from patent to product is poor, and there is no efficient coordination between upstream and downstream producers. Due to the policy attract, some patents are just a patent. Industry service platform needs to be set up to boost functions including research and development, application and product examining.
