The fourth China International Small and Medium Enterprise Fair (CISMEF) and Sino-Japanese Small and Medium Enterprises Fair was unveiled in Guangzhou on September 15. For the first time, the fair established IPR protection showcase to introduce China's principle and stand, policies and measures and rules and regulations in IPR protection. Meanwhile, a consultation service center was established to guide enterprises to effectively protect their IPR.

According to Yao Guanghai, Deputy Secretary General of the State Office of Intellectual Property Protection, the IPR protection showcase was to target SMEs for better promotion of IPR protection.

China's private enterprises possess 66 percent of the country's patents of invention, more than 74 percent of technological innovations and more than 82 percent of new products developed.

Yao noted that SMEs are the major part of IP utility in China. However, owing to their weak strength and small development scale, their efforts in IPR protection are insufficient.

Economic experts said that two factors are currently restraining China's SME development: insufficient fund and ineffective IPR protection. To SMEs, intellect is their biggest fortune. However, to apply the intellect into their business development, these SMEs need to invest heavily. Though the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) has facilitated the loan applications for SMEs, private enterprises still face great difficulties in obtaining capital to accelerate their development. They have to develop slowly through their own efforts. During this process, they need to face a greater challenge of IPR protection. Yao noted that besides resolving the capital problem, increasing SMEs' IPR protection capacity is the most urgent task to support their development.

In order to lift the service level of IPR protection for SMEs, related departments of CISMEF introduced China's principle and stand, policies and measures and rules and regulations in IPR protection and exhibited the achievements made in IPR protection through video and audio equipment. Experts from industry and commerce departments and copyright departments provided on-the-spot consultation services related to enterprises' IPR protection. Meanwhile, Guangdong IPR Reporting, Complaining and Service Center transferred staff to establish a reporting and complaining station at the fair, handling related complains, investigating cases according the complains and protecting the legal rights of SMEs.