A total of 1,709 general patents and 138 patents for inventions were granted in the first five months of the year to end-May in Tongzhou district – in Nantong city, located East China's Jiangsu province – up 20.95 percent and 193.62 percent, respectively, year-on-year.

The number of effective invention patents reached 4,365 in Tongzhou district, with an invention patent ownership rate of 43.03 per 10,000 people, according to statistics published by the district's market supervision administration.

Fuhao Electronic Technology Co Ltd in Tongzhou was recently granted approval by the China National Intellectual Property Administration for its latest invention – "a high-speed serial expansion interface", which is reportedly an important design for high-end communications connectors.

The entire patent process – from materials preparations to applications and patent grant – was reportedly smooth and speedy, helped along by the careful assistance of the market supervision administration.

Cao Xiaoning, chief of the intellectual property department of Tongzhou district's market supervision administration, said the team has established a dedicated platform providing online services for IP consultations.

Cao added that 130 suggestions customized by the administration for local companies and individuals had been adopted to facilitate IP development for 42 IP-intensive enterprises.

A brochure called Intellectual Property Funding and Incentive Measures in Tongzhou District was recently issued by the administration to boost the IP efforts.

From January to May this year, Tongzhou also launched a series of special actions, investigating and prosecuting 25 IP crimes, involving a total of 313,650 yuan ($48,553).