China approved 168,000 patents in the first half of 2007, a 40.5% increase on last year, according to statistics from the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO).
SIPO granted more than 142,000 domestic applications and over 26,000 overseas applications.
The number of invention patents and design patents granted increased by 15% and 53% respectively when compared with last year, according to SIPO’s figures.
"The sharp increase shows a greatly-improved efficiency and capability in patent examination and approval," Wang Xiaohu, an official with the Office told Xinhua, China’s official state news agency.
