In 2009, China received 2,110 requests for funding for patent filing overseas, 1,146 of which for PCT were granted 52.85 million yuan from the central government, according to a May 27 SIPO national conference on the subject.

The qualification requirements for gaining the funding ease significantly in 2010. According to relevant regulations, where the patent applicant is a natural person who happens to be legal representative of a company, request for funding may be applied in the name of the company.  Filing of the request for 2010 is scheduled to be done between July 1 and August 15, 2010.

In an effort to bolster more applications filed overseas, such funding was established under the central government budget framework. On August 28, 2009, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) released the Interim Procedures on Funding for Patenting Overseas. On May 26, 2010, MOF and SIPO jointly formulated the Circular on Organizing Funding for Patenting Overseas 2010.

(China IP News)