On March 13, Qi Xiaoqin, an intellectual property expert from Weizheng Intellectual Property Technology Co., Ltd., visited the Centre to deliver a lecture titled “Basic Patent Knowledge and Value.” The lecture aimed to help foreign teachers and international students better understand China’s patent system and enhance their awareness of intellectual property protection.

During the lecture, Ms. Qi provided an in-depth explanation of key topics, including the basic concepts of patents, the patent application process, methods for drafting technical disclosure documents, patent value assessment, and trade secret protection. She emphasized that patents are crucial tools for both enterprises and individuals to safeguard their innovations. A well-structured patent strategy not only offers legal protection but also generates commercial value. Through case studies of renowned companies such as Huawei, Google, and IBM, she vividly illustrated how patents play a critical role in business competition and commercialization. Additionally, the lecture covered the Chinese patent system in detail, highlighting the distinctions between invention patents, utility model patents, and design patents, as well as strategies for maximizing patent value. Addressing the challenges that foreign teachers and international students might face in the realm of intellectual property, Ms. Qi provided practical advice on applying for patents in China, key considerations for drafting technical disclosure documents, identifying patentable elements, and comparing trade secrets with patents. She also discussed how to choose between patents and trade secrets in different scenarios and how to strategically combine them for optimal protection.

The lecture received positive feedback from attendees. Many foreign teachers and international students expressed that it gave them a clearer understanding of China’s patent system and would help them better utilize intellectual property tools in their future academic research and innovation endeavors.