Innovation serves as a driving force for economic growth and social progress, representing a strategic pursuit for nations and corporations worldwide and a focal topic in academic research. Patents not only protect innovative achievements but also function as a metric for quantifying innovation outputs. Consequently, leading international academic journals and think tank reports universally regard patent counts as a crucial indicator for measuring national and corporate innovation capabilities.
However, we observe that numerous existing studies focus exclusively on listed companies, which inherently suffer from "survivorship bias." This necessitates the adoption of broader samples to investigate innovation across Chinese enterprises and regions. With the emergence of large-scale databases such as industrial enterprise data, tax survey data, and customs data, scholars increasingly require comprehensive patent application and authorization data for higher-quality research. Seizing this opportunity, we have launched a full-sample patent application and authorization database.
According to Chapter I of the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China, patents are categorized into three types: invention patents, utility model patents, and design patents. Specifically:
- An invention patent refers to a new technical solution proposed for a product, method, or improvement thereof.
- A utility model patent refers to a new technical solution suitable for practical application, proposed for the shape, structure, or combination thereof of a product.
- A design patent refers to a new design that creates an aesthetic appeal and is suitable for industrial application, based on the shape, pattern, or combination thereof of a product, as well as the integration of color with shape or pattern.
Chapter IV of the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that during patent examination and approval, invention patents undergo distinct "publication" and "authorization" processes:
- After receiving an invention patent application, the patent administration department under the State Council conducts a preliminary examination. If the application meets requirements, it is published 18 months after the filing date.
- Within three years from the filing date, the patent administration department conducts a substantive examination of the invention patent application, issuing decisions for amendment, rejection, or authorization. The invention patent right takes effect from the date of authorization announcement.
- For utility model and design patent applications, if no grounds for rejection are found after preliminary examination (without substantive examination), the patent administration department issues a decision to grant the patent right. Utility model and design patent rights take effect from the date of announcement.
In accordance with these provisions, our patent application and authorization database categorizes data into four types: Invention Publication, Invention Authorization, Utility Model, and Design. All indicators for each patent are preserved.
Another critical feature distinguishing the CnOpenData patent application and authorization database is its inclusion of comprehensive transaction records for each patent. These records encompass all changes in patent status, such as authorization timelines, withdrawals post-publication, pledges, changes in patentee information, and patent termination.
Database Usage Guide
Reprint: China Patent Numbering System
Articles Citing This Database
Time Coverage
- Invention Publication: Statistics based on application publication date (1985-2024)
- Invention Authorization/Utility Model/Design: Statistics based on authorization announcement date (1985-2024)
Articles Citing This Database
- Peng Yuanhuai, 2023: "Value Creation through Government Data Openness: From the Perspective of Enterprise Total Factor Productivity," The Journal of Quantitative & Technical Economics, No. 9.
- Shang Yuping, Pan Zhou & Meng Meixia, 2023: "Innovation Performance of China's Polycentric Urban Spatial Strategy—Perspectives from Agglomeration Economies and Amenities," China Economic Quarterly, Vol. 23, No. 3.
Data Scale
Field Display
Main Table Fields
Patent Transaction Table Fields
Sample Data
China Invention Publication Patent Basic Information Table
China Invention Publication Patent Transaction Table
China Invention Authorization Patent Basic Information Table
China Invention Authorization Patent Transaction Table
China Utility Model Patent Basic Information Table
China Utility Model Patent Transaction Table
China Design Patent Basic Information Table
China Design Patent Transaction Table
Relevant Literature
- He Huanlang, Ren Yan & Zhang Tao, 2022: "Media Publicity, Intellectual Property Protection and Enterprise Innovation," The Journal of World Economy, No. 1.
- Zhou Kaiguo, Lu Yunzhi & Yang Haisheng, 2017: "Financing Constraints, Innovation Capability and Enterprise Collaborative Innovation," Economic Research Journal, No. 7.
- Yu Minggui, Zhong Huijie & Fan Rui, 2016: "Can Performance Appraisal Systems Promote Innovation in Central State-Owned Enterprises?," Economic Research Journal, No. 12.
- Li Wenjing & Zheng Manni, 2016: "Substantive Innovation or Strategic Innovation?—Impact of Macro Industrial Policies on Micro Enterprise Innovation," Economic Research Journal, No. 4.
- Liu Bo, Li Zhisheng, Wang Hongli & Yang Jinqiang, 2017: "Cash Flow Uncertainty and Enterprise Innovation," Economic Research Journal, No. 3.
- Yang Daoguang, Chen Hanwen & Liu Qiliang, 2017: "Media Pressure and Enterprise Innovation," Economic Research Journal, No. 8.
- Lerner, Josh & Seru, Amit, 2021: "The Use and Misuse of Patent Data: Issues for Finance and Beyond," The Review of Financial Studies.
Data Update Frequency
Annual Updates