Chongqing Municipal Intellectual Property Office recently became the first in southwestern China to introduce electronic patent applications. Applications can be completed within minutes by submitting materials via the Internet.

As a result, applications can be submitted at any time and a real-time information exchange can be conducted.

The number of patent applications in Chongqing is expected to exceed 10,000 this year and electronic applications are expected to significantly improve the efficiency of the process, according to the office.

(China Daily 06/01/2009 page9)