The provincial government has earmarked 6 million yuan ($949,668) to aid patent applications this year, up from 2 million yuan in 2011.

Government funding of patent commercialization has also more than doubled to 25 million yuan from 12 million yuan a year ago.

The move aims to increase both the quantity and quality of patents and advance the development of an innovation-backed province, local officials said.

Last year, more than 3,700 patent applications received financial support from local authorities and 136 projects using patented technologies benefited from provincial government funds.

(Source: China Daily)