Patent boom positions GBA as China’s top innovation cluster

The China National Intellectual Property Administration reported this week that the nine mainland GBA cities now hold 817,000 valid invention patents and 8.52 million registered trademarks, about one-sixth of the national total. The Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou innovation triangle was ranked No. 1 in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index 2025. Officials said this reflects the region’s shift from manufacturing to high-value technology and design. Analysts note that the GBA’s innovation density and commercial applied research are now outpacing traditional centres like Beijing and Shanghai, though coordination across cities remains uneven. The rise in intellectual-property activity is seen as a critical step for the region’s global competitiveness.