Ambitious Mainland enterprises are venturing further onto the global stage, pursuing new markets, customers and partnerships around the world. Yet successful international expansion requires more than a strong product or business model — it also depends on effectively protecting intellectual property (IP) and managing the risks that accompany cross-border operations.
To help businesses strengthen their capabilities in these areas, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) organised a seminar on 26 June in Guangzhou exploring the latest developments in IP management and sharing practical insights on protecting innovations and brands in overseas markets.
Bringing together Hong Kong service providers with over 150 representatives from local enterprises in the innovation & technology, cultural and creative sectors, the IP Go-Global Business Matching Session explored a range of topics, including Hong Kong’s favourable business environment and support policies, IP risk management, cross-border dispute resolution, global patent portfolio strategies, and overseas expansion tips. The programme concluded with one-on-one consultations, allowing enterprises to receive tailored advice from IP experts depending on their specific needs.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation, in 2024 Hong Kong ranked 14th in the world as a patent application centre. Most patent applications filed in Hong Kong originated outside the city, with the US, Chinese Mainland, Japan, Switzerland and the UK among the principal sources.
The city supports a sizeable industry offering services across the IP lifecycle, including patent and trademark registration, IP trading activities such as valuation, brokering and financing, as well as IP enforcement and litigation. Hong Kong has a strong cluster of service providers including patent attorneys, venture capitalists, consultants and other advisers to facilitate IP trading activities.
This makes Hong Kong an ideal partner for Mainland enterprises, noted Peter Wong, HKTDC’s Regional Director for Southern China.
“Hong Kong’s legal and intellectual property system aligns with international standards, and, with its well-established professional services sector, the city is positioned to provide value-added, comprehensive support to Mainland enterprises. This enables them to effectively protect their innovations, mitigate operational risks, enhance overall competitiveness, and achieve global expansion,” he said.
The seminar was the latest initiative under the HKTDC’s multi-year effort to support the IP business sector. Apart from hosting the annual Business of IP Asia Forum every year in December covering industry topics from a regional perspective, the HKTDC also hosted a seminar in Jiangmen in November, where speakers discussed the challenges arising from the rapid development of AI with an audience of over 200 SME representatives, IP practitioners and officials from Guangdong and Hong Kong.
Earlier this year, the HKTDC also took 30 Hong Kong designers and IP creators to Shantou and Shenzhen to meet local toy and animation industry players and explore new models for collaboration, localisation and monetisation.
The Guangzhou seminar was supported by the Hong Kong SAR Government Intellectual Property Department, the Guangdong Province Administration for Market Regulation, the Intellectual Property Office of Guangzhou Development District, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong.
The Hong Kong delegation included around 20 IP professionals nominated by leading industry bodies, including several patent attorney bodies, as well as the Hong Kong Institute of Trademark Practitioners and the Law Society of Hong Kong, underscoring the city's depth of expertise in international IP services.