Patent subsidies

CHINA plans to end all patent subsidies as part of its efforts to boost the country’s innovation and high-quality intellectual property (IP) services.

By the end of June 2021, subsidies for patent applications at all levels will be canceled, according to a notice issued by the National Intellectual Property Administration.

Financial aid provided by local governments for patent licensing should be reduced during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and phased out before 2025, read the notice.

Agricultural exports

SOUTHWEST China’s Yunnan Province exported 3.24 million tons of agricultural products in 2020, with a value exceeding 36 billion yuan (US$5.57 billion), up 16.4 percent and 8.9 percent year on year.

The province exported more than 1.34 million tons of fruits worth 18.36 billion yuan last year, an increase of 24.8 percent and 23.9 percent year on year. It also saw an export of nearly 1.36 million tons of vegetables, with a value of 10.68 billion yuan, up 15.3 percent and 5.4 percent year on year.

Safe property

GLOBAL real estate service provider Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) have signed a strategic cooperation agreement on WELL Health-Safety Rating (HSR) in Shenzhen last week.

The two sides will cooperate on building projects revolving around the WELL HSR developed by IWBI, JLL said.

The firm will leverage its management advantages in office buildings, shopping malls and residential estates to promote WELL HSR in real estate projects to provide a healthy and safe living and working environment for its clients, it said.