The National Intellectual Property Administration announced the winners of the 25th China Patent Awards on June 5 and dairy giant Yili Group's core invention patent for the Synergistic Composition of Butyrate-Producing Probiotics and Prebiotics won silver.

It marked the highest national honor it's ever been awarded in the infant formula sector and was Yili's eighth China Patent Award – underscoring the group's leadership in dairy innovation and intellectual property protection.

Recognized by the World Intellectual Property Organization, the China Patent Awards are the country's most prestigious honors in the field. They're said to not only emphasize technological excellence and commercial applications, but also the broader social and industry impact.

Yili's award-winning patent enhances butyrate production – beneficial for gut health and immunity – through precise probiotic-prebiotic synergies. The company says the formula supports healthy intestinal development in infants and has extended applications across life stages – including for children, pregnant women and the elderly.

This is the third China Patent Award received by Yili's infant formula brand Pro-Kido, setting a benchmark in both scale and standard. The achievement is understood to reflect Yili's commitment to innovation and its role in advancing global health through science-backed nutrition.