For the first time, China has 21 world-leading science and technology clusters on par with the United States, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization.

After China and the United States, Germany and Japan host 10 and 5 clusters respectively, according to WIPO.

Four of the world’s five largest science and technology clusters are in East Asia. One is Japan, two are China, and one is South Korea. According to an early release of his 2022 edition of WIPO’s Global Innovation Index, the fifth largest is the United States.

Tokyo-Yokohama, Japan was the best-performing cluster, followed by Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou and Beijing in second and third, followed by Seoul in fourth and San Jose-San Francisco in fifth.

Compared to the previous year, the three clusters in China showed the biggest jumps in the 2022 cluster rankings. Henan’s Zhengzhou climbed his 15 places from 2021 to 83rd. Shandong’s Qingdao and Fujian’s Xiamen climbed his 12 spots to 34th and 91st respectively.

“Regional innovation clusters are important to the vitality of a nation’s innovation ecosystem. So identifying them will help us understand where and how innovations are occurring, and help us generate jobs, investment and growth. It serves as a powerful catalyst to foster innovative activities,” said Director Daren Tang. – General of WIPO.

Each year, the GII ranks approximately 130 countries and territories around the world for their top-level innovation capabilities. Science and technology clusters have been established through analysis of patent filing activity and scientific publications, documenting the geographic regions around the world with the highest density of inventors and scientific authors, he said, WIPO said. increase.

“China is playing an increasingly important role in consolidating advances in cutting-edge technology and frontier areas, such as next-generation wireless technology, new energy vehicle manufacturing, ultra-high voltage power transmission, and the photovoltaic sector. of the Information Consumption Alliance, a telecommunications industry group

Xiang said China has emerged as a major owner of global patents as more and more Chinese companies focus on patent filing and strengthening research and development.

According to WIPO, China will rise from 34th in 2012 to 12th in 2021 in the world’s innovation rankings, ahead of middle-income countries.

The number of international patent applications filed by Chinese applicants through the Patent Cooperation Treaty will reach 69,540 in 2021, ranking first in the world for the third consecutive year. The PCT is widely used as an indicator of innovative activity.