It's all smiles as representatives from the seven winning companies take to the podium at the awards ceremony. [Photo/WIPO]

Two Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs, were among the seven winners at the second WIPO Global Awards, announced on July 11 at the headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

The awards, launched in 2022, aim to celebrate and inspire SMEs around the world in their pursuit of innovation and creativity.

The two Chinese winners were Shanghai Westwell Technology Co Ltd and Xi'an KissFuture Network Technology Co Ltd.

Shanghai Westwell Technology is a national high-tech enterprise that provides intelligent solutions for various industries. It was the first company in the world to commercially deliver over 100 sets of unmanned driving vehicles and systems on a global scale. Its service covers 18 countries and regions.

"For SMEs, IP is both a shield and a sword; it not only helps protect their ideas, but is also a vehicle for entering and succeeding in new markets," said WIPO Director General Daren Tang at the awards ceremony.

He said that was why his organization was working so hard to ensure that SMEs were using IP to grow and scale up.

"SMEs make up 90 percent of all companies in the world," Tang said, adding that building a more inclusive IP ecosystem that brings IP closer to these companies was key to WIPO's strategy.

"We see these awards as a chance to celebrate, recognize and reward dynamic and innovative SMEs using innovation to change the world," Tang added.

The other five winners of the WIPO Global Awards were from France, Kenya, Mexico, Singapore and Slovenia.