Tongzhou district in Nantong, Jiangsu province has been enhancing the intellectual property management system of local enterprises while encouraging them to expand into overseas markets.

In recent years, Tongzhou has seen 215 companies pass national standard certification and provincial performance evaluations, while nurturing 16 enterprises to become national examples in intellectual property.

On Feb 6, Tongzhou-based AlphaESS became the first enterprise in Jiangsu to receive the new national standard certification for the Enterprise Intellectual Property Compliance Management System-Requirements, which was newly implemented this year. AlphaESS has incorporated IP compliance management into its strategic planning, ensuring its integral role in the entire production and operation process.

Before launching its products in the US market, Nantong Yatai Craft Candle Co Ltd spent 10 months obtaining a patent certificate from the US Patent Office through the Patent Cooperation Treaty of July 2015. This year, Yatai's new electronic candles are gaining popularity in the US market, with an expected additional sales of 20 million yuan ($2.76 million) for the year.

"Proper management of IP is crucial for driving new quality-driven productivity," said Gu Benyong, deputy director of Tongzhou. In the future, Tongzhou plans to further promote the new national standard for enterprise IP compliance management, assisting companies in fulfilling their IP compliance obligations and mitigating risks in the IP domain.