Francis Gurry: China makes remarkable progress in IP

The 31st International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai takes place in Shanghai on Oct 23. [Photo/sipa.sh.gov.cn]

Innovation is becoming central to the development strategy of various countries, said Francis Gurry, director-general of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), on Oct 23.

Speaking at the 31st International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai, Gurry pointed out that there have been three trends in the global IP sector over the past 10 to 20 years – the demand for IP is on the rise, the geography of demand is changing and the IP environment is becoming complex.

In particular, Gurry thanked the Chinese government for its support in the field of IP. He said China has made remarkable progress in IP, ranking 14th in the Global Innovation Index 2019, and Shanghai ranking 11th globally in the field of scientific and technological innovation.

"We need to protect IP and open data sources to innovate and improve AI algorithms. Ultimately, technology compatibility depends on regulatory compatibility," said Gurry.

WIPO is also addressing the issue, hoping to find an open and inclusive solution to an era that requires a coherent approach to regulation that does not limit the benefits of new technologies, he added.

The International Business Leaders' Advisory Council is held annually in Shanghai so that the mayor can hear from executives of top multinational corporations, in turn bolstering the city's development. The first meeting was held in 1989 by then-Shanghai mayor Zhu Rongji, who served as premier from 1998 to 2003.

This year's meeting focused on enhancing innovative capacity and core competitiveness.