The eastern province topped the nation in applications and patents granted in 2010 with more than 235,000 filings - about 21.3 percent of the nation's total -138,000 of which were granted, an increase of 58.54 percent over 2009.

Nearly 52 percent of the patents were from companies. Ten of the province's firms now each have more than 500 patents.

(Source: China Daily)