Cooperation and Development Section ■ Delegation of the European Union to China and Mongolia
Cooperation Section
Europe Aid
IP Key
Intellectual Property:
A Key to Sustainable Development
Duration
3 years (2013-2016)
Beneficiary country
China
EC Contribution
€ 6,000,000
OHIM Contribution
€ 1,500,000
China Contribution
(in kind)
Consultant
Consortium
Members/Partners
the Office for the Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM)
Location
Project Website
Project Contact
EU Delegation Contact
Person
European Patent Office (EPO)
China (Beijing and other provinces)
www.ipkey.org
info@ipkey.org
Mr. Jorge Bastino (Jorge.BASTINO@eeas.europa.eu)
Project Background
China is at a unique crossroad. Knowledge of intellectual property protection and related laws,
administration and systems have grown hand-in-hand with the country's ability to design and
develop its own indigenous technology. Since China joined the WTO in 2001, the country’s
economy has been growing at an average two-digit rate up to 2007. The percentage of growth
achied through value-added manufacturing as compared to low-value exports is still quite low, and
this is something the Chinese authorities aim to address through a concerted National Intellectual
Property strategy (NIPS), promulgated in 2008.
As part of its reforms, following an in-depth analysis of global competition, at its 17th congress on 15
October 2007, the CCP anticipated “implementing an IP strategy”. As a result, the “national IP
Strategy (NIPS) was launched in June 2008. Since then, China has constantly increased its efforts to
create a positive environment for intellectual property creation and protection.
Although overall improvements in the protection of Intellectual Property Rights in China have been
achieved, with important contributions from past EU interventions supporting China in establishing a
legal framework for IP protection (EU-China IPR Co-operation Programme – 1999-2004) and
facilitating enforcement of IP legislation (EU-CHINA Project on the Protection of the Intellectual
Property Rights - IPR2 – 2007-2011), some challenges still remain.
Further improving the IP environment in China according to international standards will be beneficial
for European companies trading or investing in China, but also for those Chinese companies aspiring
to become international and who will be better prepared to operate under different IP rules, or
differently implemented, compared to China.
1
Cooperation and Development Section ■ Delegation of the European Union to China and Mongolia
Project Overall Objectives
Europe Aid
The overall objective of IP Key is to support the interests of European innovators and rights holders
trading with or investing in China; contributing to a level playing field for European companies
operating in China.
Project Specific Objectives
The specific objective of IPR Key is to ensure the transparent and fair implementation of the
Chinese IPR protection and enforcement system, avoiding [and discouraging] any protectionist
market access barriers through the misuse of IPR legislation and to further improve the IPR
environment in China.
Estimated Project Results
R.1
EU interests and proposals are better substantiated in the EU China Dialogue and the IP
Working Group, by the provision of highly specialized expertise;
R.2
European business interests are promoted through a structured platform, also targeting
less advanced provinces in China;
R.3
China has been encouraged and supported in following an internationally oriented, nondiscriminatory (fair, transparent and accessible) innovation policy framework;
R.4
The Chinese legal framework on IPR laws and regulations, as well as related
enforcement practices, are further improved with a view to create a transparent and predictable
environment for EU companies having invested in or trading with China;
R. 5
A high level of awareness about Action results has been achieved both within China and
internationally through the effective use of dissemination tools.
Main Project Activities
The project's activities are mainly regrouped in three categories:

Protection of European business interests and support to the EU-China IP dialogue and
related negotiation processes

IP, sustainable competitiveness and risk mitigation for European businesses

Legal framework and predictable enforcement in China
The intervention strategy for the project components, namely the prioritisation of issues to be
addressed and the choice of activities will be largely determined by the relevant EU-China
Economic, Trade and Regulatory dialogues. Sector specific activities to be supported by the project
are drawn up taking into account the strategic objectives of these Dialogues.
Support will take the form of expert advice, studies, capacity building, training, conferences,
workshops, study tours, internships and other forms of cooperation tools.
Updated: May 2015
2