A bird's-eye view of Nantong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The number of valid invention patents held in Nantong, Jiangsu province, has reached 50,761, ranking fourth in the province, according to local intellectual property bureau.

The city has added 10,217 new valid invention patents so far this year, a year-on-year increase of 58 percent, the second highest growth rate in the province.

Enterprises are the main holders of invention patents, with a total of 9,357 enterprises in the city holding 44,953 valid invention patents, accounting for 88.6 percent of the total.

Among the city's 16 advanced manufacturing clusters, the three clusters with the most valid invention patents are new materials, high-end equipment, and energy-saving and environmental protection.

In recent years, Nantong has innovatively implemented the Drip Irrigation Plan for patent cultivation, focusing on high-tech and specialized enterprises, and new R&D institutions, providing comprehensive services for invention patents.

The city has over 4,500 enterprises included in the Drip Irrigation Plan, with new valid invention patents accounting for more than 82 percent of the total authorized invention patents held by local enterprises.

Moving forward, Nantong will promote the deep integration of IP work with technological and industrial innovation, leveraging the high-quality development of IP to inject strong momentum into the building of a national innovative city and modern industrial city at the technological forefront.