On the morning of December 6, 2024, the 15th Tongji-Bayer Intellectual Property Forum was successfully held at Fuzhou University. The forum was co-hosted by Tongji University and Bayer Group of Germany, and co-organized by the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property at Tongji University, the Law School at Fuzhou University, and the Intellectual Property Research Institute of Xiamen University.

Luo Dongchuan, Deputy Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee, extended congratulations on behalf of the Fujian Provincial Committee and the Provincial Government. He emphasized that strengthening intellectual property protection is essential for fostering new productive forces. In recent years, Fujian has thoroughly implemented President Xi Jinping's important discourse on intellectual property, leveraging the IP system's role in technological innovation and high-quality development. Significant progress has been made in building a strong intellectual property province. He highlighted the need to study and implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and President Xi’s key speeches during his visit to Fujian, continuously improving policies on high-quality IP creation, robust protection, efficient utilization, high-level services, and effective cooperation. Fujian aims to chart a distinctive path for intellectual property development, fostering new drivers of productivity in advancing Chinese modernization.

Wan Yong, Deputy Director of the Intellectual Property Prosecution Office of the Supreme People's Procuratorate and a professor at the Renmin University of China Law School, remarked in his speech that prosecutorial agencies have achieved remarkable results in combating IP crimes. He stressed that the rule of law is the best business environment and called for strengthened collaboration with courts, administrative enforcement agencies, and academic institutions. He praised the forum for providing an excellent platform for exchange in the IP field and expressed hopes for in-depth discussions with all parties to further advance IP protection.

Dr. Jörg Thomaier, Head of Intellectual Property at Bayer Group, affirmed the longstanding achievements of the Tongji-Bayer IP Forum and its influence in the IP domain. Reflecting on the forum's development, he expressed optimism about the continuous enhancement and evolution of China's IP protection landscape.

Xu Xuejun, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Tongji University, stated in his speech that since 2003, Tongji University has actively advanced the development of intellectual property as an academic discipline. The establishment of the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property in 2016 aimed to promote IP education with Chinese characteristics and its application in global governance. Initiated in 2006 by Tongji University and Bayer Group, the forum has received support from the Supreme People's Court of China, the China National Intellectual Property Administration, and the Federal Court of Justice of Germany, evolving into a significant platform for Sino-German IP exchanges.

Wu Minghong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Fuzhou University, as well as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, extended a warm welcome to the leaders, experts, and scholars attending the forum.

The forum brought together leading experts and scholars from Chinese and German government agencies, judicial sectors, academia, industry, and IP-related organizations, including representatives from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate Intellectual Property Office, the China National Intellectual Property Administration, the Price Supervision and Anti-Unfair Competition Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Fujian Provincial Higher People's Court, the Federal Court of Justice of Germany, the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, Tongji University, Renmin University of China, Xiamen University, Fuzhou University, Jimei University, the China Intellectual Property Law Association, Bayer Group, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Siemens Healthineers, and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.

Notable participants included Vice President (Acting President) Yu Xinmiao of the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property, alongside Liu Xiaohai, Shan Xiaoguang, Cheng Deli, Chen Li, Liu Xia, Wang Yukai, Peter Ganea, and others. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on four themes: new developments in Sino-German judicial protection of IP, patent commercialization and high-quality development, trade secret protection in China, and the business environment and collaborative innovation for mutual benefits.

Focusing on IP-related research, the forum emphasized joint efforts to strengthen and improve IP protection, stimulate innovation, optimize the innovation ecosystem, nurture IP talent, and contribute to national high-quality development.

Source: School of Law, Fuzhou University
Reviewed by: Jian Dengwei
Finalized by: Lin Min