On the afternoon of October 9, Shenzhen IP Administration (SIPA) and Shenzhen Polytechnic (SZPT) jointly held the startup ceremony of intellectual property volunteer service. Keeping the ideas of promoting volunteer spirits, serving hi-tech fair and publicizing IPR protection in minds, 50 volunteers vow to do their best to serve the China Hi-Tech Fair. Being well trained, the 50 volunteers will serve as the publicity ambassadors of the upcoming Ninth China Hi-Tech Fair, calling for all participating enterprises and audience to make joint efforts for IPR protection.

"Protecting IPR" is one of the three themes of the fair, together with "Promoting Opening up and Innovation" and "Constructing a Harmonious Society." On the basis of "Independent IP Authentication" successfully launched at the Eighth China Hi-Tech Fair, the organizer of the fair will provide all-round services for independent IPR protection this year, including launching IP authentication, strengthening law enforcement of IPR protection at the fair, establishing a special lawyer group to mediate in IP disputes and inviting arbitration institutions to the fair to arbitrate IP disputes.

According to SIPA Director Xu Youjun, IPR protection is the symbol of social civilization, the source of encouraging innovation and the internal need of promoting social progress and development. Leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese Central Government attach great importance to IP works and adopted great measures on several occasions to promote its healthy development. IP works have become China's national strategy since IPR protection plays important roles in improving China's national core competent and constructing an innovative country. China's National IP strategy will soon be publicized. Meanwhile, CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Shenzhen Government regard IP protection as an important measure to fully implement the scientific concept of development, take the path of independent innovation and create a national innovative city, putting forward the strategic goal of constructing Shenzhen into a powerful IP city.

The activity jointly held by SIPA and SZPT means to make these volunteers the IP publicity ambassador of the hi-tech fair this year, so as to attract participating units and people's attentions to IP works, increase their awareness of IPR protection, purify the environment of IPR protection of the fair and build up Shenzhen's image of IP culture. SZPT's efforts in this activity will help improve college and university students' sense of social responsibility and consciousness of IP protection, which is an effective way to deepen publicity of IPR protection. Meanwhile, it is incumbent on colleges and universities to promote IPR protection into a social action.

According to SZPT President Liu Hongyi, keeping the goal of constructing an innovative college in mind, SZPT actively implement China's IPR protection policy and Shenzhen's strategy of encouraging independent innovation. In 2006, SZPT totally filed 59 patent applications, 18 of which were granted, ranking top 10 in this regard among colleges and universities of Guangdong Province. Meanwhile, SZPT entered Shenzhen's top 20 list in terms of the number of patent application for the first time, together with some patent giants such as Huawei and ZET, becoming a highlight in the city's IP realm.

IPR protection need full participation of the society and the atmosphere of IPR protection in Shenzhen, China's fertile soil of independent innovation, needs the whole society's efforts. It is the first time in Shenzhen, and even in China to publicize IPR protection through efforts of IP volunteers and these volunteers will be an important part in our program of IPR protection publicity. At the Ninth China Hi-Tech Fair, the IP volunteers will become the most eye-catching group and can be seen in various IPR protection activities. They will surely become a highlight of IPR publicity and protection in the fair.