China has built a complete industrial system comprising 41 major categories, 207 medium categories, and 666 subcategories-covering every sector defined by the United Nations. As the cradle of China's modern industry, Northeast China hosts 40 historical industrial bases, which have played a vital role in boosting the nation's global industrial competitiveness and promoting balanced regional development.
The key question now is: how can these old industrial bases regain vitality in driving the full revitalization of Northeast China? At a recent press conference held by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, the answer was made clear: intellectual property (IP). With support from technological progress and IP, Northeast China's industrial heartland is transitioning from old factories to modern parks, from resource-driven development to innovation-led growth-charting a transformation path with an increasingly global footprint.
Innovation-driven momentum
In recent years, Northeast China has leveraged both institutional IP frameworks and technological capacity to enhance innovation through stronger industry-university-research collaboration, increasing the real-world value of scientific achievements. "Our development-spanning business incubation, leading medical robotics, and contributing to medical and engineering standards-has always centered on the synergy between academia and industry," said Su Yanyu, Deputy General Manager of Harbin Sagebot Intelligent Medical Equipment Co., Ltd. With this model, the company established an integrated pipeline from R&D breakthroughs to product development, market expansion, and industrial growth. It aligned patent portfolios with standardization strategies. This strategic alignment has enabled the company to overcome technological barriers and expand into over 20 countries and regions.
The ultimate goal of innovation is practical application. IP commercialization helps move lab discoveries to the production line. In Daqing Oilfield Limited Company, a major energy production base in Heilongjiang Province, IP has been incorporated into its long-term development strategy. The oilfield has established robust IP management and training systems while accelerating tech transfer with high-value patents. Over the past three years, 281 invention patent applications have been granted. "One key innovation is the first measuring instrument for rock porosity and permeability under high temperature and high pressure of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). It breaks through the bottleneck of traditional gas measuring instruments that can only be measured at normal temperature and pressure conditions, which can achieve accurate measurement of rock porosity and permeability under in-situ high temperature and high pressure conditions," said Su Yong, Director of the Central Laboratory at the Daqing Oilfield Exploration and Development Research Institute. Four patent applications have been filed for this instrument.
Industrial upgrading for growth
Traditional industries still dominate Northeast China's economy, and upgrading them is critical. One standout example is Bengang Steel Plates Co., Ltd. in Benxi, Liaoning Province. Through a focus on high-end, smart, and green development, the company has reinvented itself and now exports products to over 80 countries and regions. "For steel companies expanding globally, product quality and customer service are crucial," said Zhou Zhongqi, Director of Bengang Steel Plates' Innovation Department. In response to global low-carbon trends, the company pioneered a semi-steel low-carbon metallurgy process, achieving over 30% carbon reduction in its automotive steel. It has invested 31 billion yuan in environmental initiatives and holds over 50 patents related to ultra-low emissions.
While traditional industries are transforming, new sectors are also emerging. Biopharmaceuticals have become a key strategic industry in Shenyang. A representative enterprise, Shenyang Xingqi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., offers products across more than ten ophthalmic drug categories. "After years of effort, we've pursued differentiated R&D for innovative drugs and secured global patents for delivery devices. In addition to serving the domestic market, we are expanding technologies overseas through the license-out model," said Yang Qiang, the company's Deputy General Manager and Head of R&D. It now holds 130 valid patents and 509 registered trademarks.
Global integration through openness
In 2024, total imports and exports in Northeast China reached 1.25 trillion yuan-a record high. Exports grew by 8.1%, outpacing the national average by one percentage point, signaling deeper openness. IP has played a vital role in this trend: international exhibitors from over ten countries and regions at the China International Patent Fair have invested in Liaoning; Jilin has launched engagement services for foreign chambers and enterprises; Heilongjiang has hosted annual China-Russia IP exchange programs; and Inner Mongolia released a guide on IP protection in Mongolia. These pragmatic efforts are accelerating the region's integration into the Belt and Road Initiative and expanding international cooperation.
Heilongjiang, known as China's breadbasket, is strengthening its agricultural innovation. In 2023, the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences was approved to establish the provincial modern agricultural industry IP operation center. To date, the center has facilitated the commercialization of 242 independently developed IP achievements across the province's agricultural industry chain, generating a total transaction value of 223 million yuan. Seeds from Heilongjiang are not only thriving in China but also taking root in countries and regions. Two soybean varieties - "Suinong 42" and "Henong 95" - were registered in a foreign country. "Diversifying China's soybean import sources is critical for national food security and also supports the development of other countries' soybean industry. In the future, we'll expand agricultural cooperation with more countries to contribute to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Zhang Jumei, Researcher at the academy.