The number of patent applications from businesses in the Wuhan Economic and Technology Development Zone totaled 1,062 in the first eight months of this year, surpassing the full-year total of 2010.

Invention patent applications surged 164 percent over the same period.

Authorities said the increase is due to improved training and legal consulting by local intellectual property offices that has strengthened the use and management of intellectual property among companies.

(Source: China Daily)