The Wensan digital cultural block in Hangzhou. [Photo/IC]

Hangzhou is pushing forward a bold three-year campaign to solidify its leadership as China's premier digital economy hub, with intellectual property (IP) protection at the center of its strategy.

At a recent press conference, Hangzhou showcased its innovative strength: by February 2025, the city had 186,800 active invention patents, maintaining its lead among provincial capitals. It also recorded 2,450 PCT international patent applications and 62.6 high-value invention patents per 10,000 people — both achievements which are injecting powerful momentum into its digital economy.

Since being approved in 2023 as one of China's first national IP protection demonstration zones, Hangzhou has ranked 14th globally for three consecutive years in the World Intellectual Property Organization's Global Innovation Index top 100 science and technology clusters. The city's establishment of a digital economy IP protection center and the rise of innovation-driven enterprises like the "Six Little Dragons" have made clear impacts.

Now, Hangzhou is leveraging IP innovation to accelerate toward its goal of becoming China's top digital economy city. The newly released Strategic Development Plan for Digital Economy Industry Intellectual Property in Hangzhou (2025–27) — the nation's first IP development plan tailored to the digital economy — aims to drive this transformation.

Under the plan, by 2027 Hangzhou aims to achieve a core digital economy industry revenue of 2.2 trillion yuan ($311.5 billion), with the sector contributing more than 30 percent of its GDP and housing over 240,000 digital economy enterprises. Core industries are expected to hold more than 150,000 active invention patents and register over 10,000 data IP rights, with more than 55,000 IP transfers and licenses.

Moving forward, Hangzhou will focus on breakthroughs in core technologies like AI, low-altitude economy, and humanoid robotics, building high-level innovation platforms and patent cultivation bases. It also plans to lead reforms in data IP management, explore integrated data rights, and enhance financial services for IP-driven companies.

The IP protection complex in Hangzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: hzfbwx]