Economic Daily:

According to recently published statistics, in 2021, the amount of national patent and trademark pledge financing exceeded 300 billion yuan for the first time. How do you comment on this and what specific measures have been carried out? Thanks. 

Hu Wenhui:

Thank you for your question. Regarding pledge financing, we will invite Ms. Lei to answer the question.  

Lei Xiaoyun:

Thank you for your question. Mr. Hu just introduced the overall situation for national patent and trademark pledge financing in 2021. Last year, the amount of national patent and trademark pledge financing exceeded 300 billion yuan for the first time, and financial inclusion was also improved. It was the result of superimposing multiple factors including policies, measures, market environment and business demands, as well as giving full play to the initiatives of both central and local governments. 

First, the central government has attached great importance to intellectual property pledge financing. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly pointed out the necessity of increasing financial support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee proposed improving the financial support innovation system. The Central Economic Work Conference emphasized guiding financial institutions to increase support for the real economy, especially the technological innovation of small and micro-sized enterprises. The Outline for Building China's Strength in Intellectual Property and the 14th Five-Year Plan proposed developing intellectual property finance in an active and steady manner. The executive meeting of the State Council discussed and made arrangements for intellectual property pledge financing. 

Second, the financing demands of technology-based micro, small and medium-sized enterprises have been increasing. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises have been an important force for stabilizing growth, promoting employment and safeguarding people's livelihood. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises have been under enormous pressure and faced many difficulties. Particularly, many technology-based enterprises in the start-up stage, which have strong innovation capacity and solid growth potential, have been eager to obtain financial support with "light assets" such as patents and trademarks to achieve better development.

Third, we should implement multiple measures, combine details, analyze the overall situation and make joint efforts. In terms of policy guidance, we should follow the deployment of the State Council. The CNIPA has joined the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) and the National Copyright Administration in issuing the Notice on Further Strengthening Intellectual Property Pledged Financing. The Notice establishes specific measures such as separate credit plans, specialized evaluations and incentive mechanisms, as well as loosening non-performing loan ratios. The Notice on Promoting and Regulating the Operation of Intellectual Property Rights, which prioritizes strengthening financial services for intellectual property rights, has also been issued. The CNIPA, the CBIRC and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) have jointly launched a three-year campaign entitled, "Intellectual Property Pledge Financing to Benefit Enterprises in Industrial Parks," and provided guidance to local authorities for bank-enterprise matchmaking activities. In terms of optimizing services, the Measures for Registration of Pledge of Patent Right has been revised, providing online registration of intellectual property pledges for financial institutions on a trial basis. We have jointly provided guidance with relevant departments for building a national intellectual property pledge information platform to gather information on patent and trademark pledges and financial products. In terms of bank-enterprise cooperation, we have conducted strategic cooperation with Bank of China and China Construction Bank to guide the development of special products for intellectual property pledges.  

Next, in accordance with arrangements made by the central government, we will continue to promote intellectual property pledge financing to provide better services for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and provide support for the high-quality development of the real economy. 

Thanks.