At September 10, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) released the result of the approved State Qualified Enterprise Technology Centers (SQETC) in 2007 on its website. The number of invention patents held by an enterprise has become an important indicator of examination and approval this year, and it is also for the first time to appraise SQETC after new Regulation on SQETC taking effect on May 20, 2007.

 

Meanwhile, NDRC declared three rankings of Chinese enterprises, including top 100 largest investors in research and development (R&D), top 50 holders of invention patents, and those with business scale valued over RMB10 billion.

 

Among top 50 largest invention patent holders, there are 12 enterprises owning more than 100 invention patents, with Sinopec as the first, PetroChina the fourth, and Haier the seventh. The three companies, at the same time, are also the first, second and seventh in business scale, and the second, first, and fifth in R&D investment. This indicates that enterprises with larger scale and more R&D investment always own more invention patents.

 

In accordance with the Regulation, SQETC has to be examined and approved every year, and applications closed on May 15. The enterprises filing application must meet following eight requirements:

 

(?) Having complete equipments for research, development and test;

 

(?) Owning technologically creative capability, core technology with IP, well-known brand and international competitiveness;

 

(?) Maintaining high R&D investment;

 

(?) Enjoying leading level of R&D and innovation in a certain industry;

 

(?) Having a complete organizing structure and definite developing plan and goals;

 

(?) Establishing a stable cooperation mechanism with universities and research institutions;

 

(?) Having IPR management system;

 

(?) Achieving outstanding achievement in technological innovation.

 

According to an official of NDRC in charge of this matter, the regulation aims at encouraging Chinese enterprises to invest more in R&D so as to strengthen their innovation capability and enlarge their business. "The country will give more supports to listed enterprises in terms of policy-making and finance", the official said.

 

2007-09-17

2007-09-17