According to the latest report released by the World Intellectual Property Organization on November 21, despite the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of global intellectual property applications for patents, trademarks and designs still reached a new height in 2021, thanks to the increase in the number of applications from Asian countries such as China, South Korea and India. 

According to the report, global innovators submitted 3.4 million patent applications in 2021, a 3.6% increase year-on-year. Asian authorities accounted for 67.6% of the world's total applications. Among them, the number of applications from China, South Korea and India increased by 5.5%, 2.5% and 5.5% respectively. 

According to the data of about 150 countries and regions compiled in the report, the National Intellectual Property Administration of China accepted 1.59 million patent applications in 2021. Relevant institutions in the United States, Japan, South Korea and Europe followed closely. 

In addition, China ranks first in the world in terms of the number of trademark registrations and industrial design applications. 

"The latest data from the World Intellectual Property Indicators show that the number of intellectual property applications continues to increase, which is mainly driven by the growth in Asia, and most other regions are also on the rise. The number of intellectual property applications shows that despite the economic and social chaos caused by the pandemic, people all over the world continue to innovate and create", said Deng Hongsen, Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization.