Patents and innovation in mainland China and Hong Kong: two systems in one country compared

Last chapter of this book compares Hong Kong and Singapore in building their OGP systems (called "positive grant patent", system in Singapore). Yu argues that, although Singapore's new system has strengthened its credential as an IP hub, created more job opportunities for IP professionals, and extended its impact to ASEAN countries, the success has not been translated into the increase in the patent numbers, particularly from local residents. He argues that, by substantially outsourcing patent examination to the SIPO, Hong Kong may not be able "to reap the benefits from such local capability," and that "while Singapore's new patent search and examination (S&E) capability has won it some plaudits, it is too early to assess its full impact on the country's overall IP ecosystem in terms of new job creation, additional numbers of patents, more patent filings by local entities, or other indicators of increased innovative activity