Tibet's patent applications have shot up so far this year over the same period in 2008, the Intellectual Property Office of Tibet Autonomous Regional Government said Wednesday.

The technical content of Tibet's patent applications has also risen substantially, according to an official of the office. The ratio of invention and pragmatic patents to the total applications usually serves as a measurement of the technical content of the region's patent applications.

Statistics in 2009 show that by the end of October, there had been 57 invention patent applications and 60 pragmatic patent applications, accounting for 34.3 percent and 36.1 percent of the total number, respectively.

The figures show a higher technical content of patent applications in the region, the official said.

The deadline for applying for patent funding and rewards has been set on Dec. 18. Those intending to file such applications are required to go to the Regional Intellectual Property Office for application.

(Source: China Tibet Information Center)