BEIJING, Mar. 11 (China Daily) -- The intellectual property management and operations center at the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics is looking to increase the application and commercialization of patents, said Kong Xianghao, deputy head of the university's College of Material Science and Technology.

The college and Jiangsu Zhongshan Intellectual Property Service Co jointly founded the intellectual property management and operations center in late January.

Kong said the center, in East China's Jiangsu province, plans to conduct patent-related training at the college and become more involved in scientific research projects to help grow and improve upon patent filings from the college.

Teachers at the college said it did not occur to them to apply for patents until after they finished a scientific research project, adding that they sometimes failed to file for a patent because they were too busy. They said the center has made it easier to file patent applications.

The center is targeting three research directions at the college: aeronautics and astronautics materials, major equipment and nuclear material (technology); and new-energy materials and energy storage, Nanjing Daily reported.

The college has filed more than 400 invention patent applications in recent years, half of which have been granted. Kong said the college wants to promote the commercialization of the patents.

He said he hopes the center will help build a bridge between the college and businesses. When a patent is approved, the center will get in touch with companies to help promote cooperation, Kong said.

The center will also have a panel of experts to evaluate the value of the college's approved patents. Patents of high value that have the potential to be commercialized will receive support.

Xu Yan, deputy director of marketing at Jiangsu Zhongshan, said the company helps file more than 2,000 patent applications annually, half of which are from colleges and universities.

Xu said if the IP service company enters into a college or university, it can directly serve the school's patent applications and also help commercialize high-value patents.

The website of Nanjing intellectual property administration said the center provides a new model of cooperation between schools and IP companies. Such a center helps improve patent service quality, create high-value patents and commercialize patent technology, according to the website.