Qingdao boasts a vibrant economy in Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Qingdao has made remarkable progress in the Global Innovation Index 2023 report recently released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Qingdao ranked 23rd (8th domestically) among the global top 100 scientific and technological innovation clusters, climbing 11 spots from the previous year, making it one of the fastest-rising cities in China.

This rapid ascent reflects Qingdao's proactive response to the national innovation-driven development strategy and its global recognition in promoting scientific and technological innovation and driving high-quality development.

In recent years, Qingdao has been focusing on becoming a strong intellectual property city. It attaches great importance to innovation in intellectual property and provides support for its development through a series of incentives.

In 2022, Qingdao was approved as part of the first batch of national demonstration cities for the development of strong intellectual property rights.

Since 2007, WIPO has published 16 editions of the Global Innovation Index. The report is regarded as a bellwether of innovation and creation in the global economy and an important reference for national economic decision-making. It reveals the ranking of the most innovative economies in the world amongst a total of 132 economies and localizes the top 100 scientific and technological innovation clusters.