A conference on the innovative development of the robot services industry is held in Shanghai on April 16. [Photo/WeChat account: Shanghai_IPA]

The third China International Service Robot Innovation Development Conference – organized by Donghao Lansheng (Group) Co Ltd and co-organized by the Shanghai Robert Industry Association and the Shanghai Industrial Park of Robotics – was held in Shanghai city in East China on April 16.

Chen Zhong, deputy director general of the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration, or SIPA, attended the conference and delivered a keynote speech.

He said that intellectual property was the key to innovative development and the major driver for building a world-class business environment in the city.

Today, China has become the world's biggest robot market, with robot-related patent applications accounting for more than 40 percent of the global total. However, there is still a gap between China and internationally advanced level in terms of the patent layout of core technologies, Chen said.

"The robot industry in Shanghai is an important pillar to promote scientific and technological innovation, develop intelligent manufacturing and consolidate the real economy. Especially under the impact of COVID-19, service robots are playing an increasingly prominent role in medical care, business, education and in other fields," Chen added.

"In this process, we need to pay more attention to the creation, protection and application of IP and work together to create a better innovation and IP environment for the development of the service robot industry."

Leaders from related government departments, experts and CEOs of leading technology companies spoke about the development of service robots at the conference.