According to the China Green Patent Statistical Report (2014-2017) issued by the National Intellectual Property Administration in 2018, China has witnessed active green innovation activities and a gradual increase in green patent holdings. By the end of 2017, China's valid green patents reached 136,000. From 2014 to 2017, green patent applications totaled 249,000, with an average annual growth rate 3.7 percentage points higher than that of overall invention patents.
As a crucial component of ecological civilization, green innovation represents a key focus in China's innovation strategy. The concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" reflects regional efforts to balance rapid economic development with economic transformation, integrating growth with sustainability. Green innovation serves as a vital driver for achieving high-quality economic development.
While CnOpenData has previously released green patent-related databases—such as green innovation data and green patent citation/reference data for listed companies/industrial enterprises—these primarily focused on micro-level analyses, lacking macro-statistical dimensions. CnOpenData now extracts green patent information from regional patent statistics to construct the China Green Patent Statistics by Region, empowering related research.
Compared to general regional patent data, this dataset features a more complex structure due to green classification requirements. The IPC (International Patent Classification) code, as the sole globally recognized patent documentation classification and retrieval tool, identifies the technical fields of patents. Based on IPC codes, green patents are categorized into seven main classifications: Waste Management, Nuclear Power, Transportation, Energy Conservation, Agriculture & Forestry, Alternative Energy Production, and Administrative Regulation & Design. These are further divided into 39 sub-classifications for precise technical definitions (e.g., Carbon/Emission Trading under Administrative Regulation & Design, Pesticide Alternatives under Agriculture & Forestry). Notably, this dataset covers only invention patents and utility models, excluding design patents.
Accordingly, the CnOpenData China Green Patent Statistics by Region categorizes data into Patent Applications and Patent Grants, classified by Main Categories and Sub-classifications of green patents. The dataset further distinguishes Province-level and City-level Tables, offering detailed structural flexibility to meet multi-dimensional statistical needs.
Data Features
- Classifies regions by province and city based on 2020 administrative codes, with monthly granularity, covering 34 provincial-level regions (23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, 2 special administrative regions), providing comprehensive statistics on green patent applications and grants.
- Accurately identifies and distinguishes addresses of all patent applicants, beyond the first applicant's detailed address.
- For patents with multiple IPC codes, all classifications are recognized and counted under corresponding main/sub-categories.
- Adheres to the latest WIPO green patent standards and updates IPC classifications using the most recent revisions.
Time Coverage
1985-2024.12.31
Data Structure Preview
Database Usage Guide
CnOpenData: What is the IPC Classification?
WIPO: Green Patent Classification Standards
Field Description
Sample Data
Partial preview of patent application tables
Province-Level Green Patent Applications (Main Categories)
City-Level Green Patent Applications (Main Categories)
Province-Level Green Patent Applications (Sub-classifications)
City-Level Green Patent Applications (Sub-classifications)
Related Literature
- Tao Feng, Zhao Jinyu, Zhou Hao, 2021, "Does Environmental Regulation Achieve 'Quality-Quantity Improvement' in Green Technology Innovation? Evidence from Environmental Target Responsibility Systems," China Industrial Economics No. 2.
- Li Qingyuan, Xiao Zehua, 2020, "Heterogeneous Environmental Regulation Tools and Corporate Green Innovation Incentives: Evidence from Green Patents of Listed Companies," Economic Research Journal No. 9.
- Qi Shaozhou, Lin Shen, Cui Jingbo, 2018, "Can Environmental Rights Trading Markets Induce Green Innovation? Evidence from Green Patent Data of Chinese Listed Companies," Economic Research Journal No. 12.
- Josh L., Amit S., 2021, "The Use and Misuse of Patent Data: Issues for Finance and Beyond," The Review of Financial Studies.
Update Frequency
Annual Updates