China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) have jointly released a set of policy measures aimed at strengthening intellectual property (IP) protection in the country’s solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. The move is designed to promote a “fair and orderly market” and support the “healthy development” of China’s solar sector, which has faced intense competition and prolonged low prices in recent years.
The policy package outlines 11 key tasks, which include:
- Encouraging high-quality patent filings and accelerating R&D in advanced technologies such as TOPCon, heterojunction (HJT), and back-contact (BC) PV cells.
- Reserving basic patents for emerging technologies such as perovskite and tandem solar cells.
- Improving patent pre-examination efficiency, streamlining administrative adjudication of disputes, and enhancing IP risk monitoring.
- Promoting collaborative IP protection, regulating IP infringement in solar procurement, and developing diversified dispute resolution mechanisms.
- Strengthening overseas IP risk response, protecting Chinese PV firms in international exhibitions, exports, and investments.
- Fostering trademark and brand protection, and enhancing the IP management capabilities of enterprises.
The government aims for these measures to ensure that by 2027, IP rights will significantly contribute to the sector’s growth, supporting deployment of high-value patents and improving the industry’s ability to manage IP risks.
To implement these policies, CNIPA and MIIT plan to establish a coordination and consultation system, promoting collaboration between central and local governments, as well as regional industry players. Specialized think tanks comprising experts in IP, industry, law, and public services will provide guidance and support for solar businesses to improve IP management, utilization, and enforcement.
Industry observers note that these measures come amid growing challenges in China’s solar sector, including “involution” competition, oversupply, and shifting technology trends toward n-type TOPCon cells. Beijing’s IP push aims not only to stabilize the domestic market but also to protect Chinese manufacturers globally against potential technological and competitive risks in markets such as India and the US.
Earlier, in July 2025, MIIT had announced plans to curb disorderly competition and low-price practices in the solar sector, followed by measures in November addressing similar challenges in the battery storage industry. The new IP-focused policies are viewed as a continuation of this broader strategy to enhance industrial competitiveness while fostering innovation.
CNIPA and MIIT conclude that the strengthened IP framework will cultivate a positive social environment that respects IP rights, encourage technological advancement, and safeguard the long-term development of China’s PV industry.
Electrify your feed! Click here to join our Whatsapp group and to get the latest updates, expert insights, and innovations driving India’s energy storage revolution.
