The landscape of international higher education has shifted dramatically in recent years, with British universities facing unprecedented challenges. A marked decline in international student numbers, particularly from China – the largest cohort of overseas students in the UK – has placed significant financial strain on institutions. According to the Office for Students, 43% of British universities are projected to be in deficit by July 2025, a figure that underscores the urgency of addressing recruitment and retention. Compounding this, economic uncertainty in China has driven a reduction in consumer spending, prompting students and their families to prioritise educational options closer to home, such as Malaysia, Singapore or Hong Kong. These destinations, once overshadowed by the allure of a British degree, are now viable competitors. For Chinese students and parents, the decision to study abroad hinges on a critical factor: the return on investment, measured by the promise of quality employment upon graduation. With youth unemployment in China remaining a persistent concern, the focus on employability has never been sharper.

British universities have long excelled in providing career guidance to domestic students, equipping them with the tools to navigate the UK job market. However, supporting Chinese graduates, particularly those returning to China, presents a unique set of challenges. Many institutions lack the expertise and resources to offer tailored career support in-country, leaving graduates to navigate a competitive and unfamiliar job market without sufficient guidance. Traditional alumni events, while valuable for networking among graduates and academics, often come at significant expense and fail to bridge the gap between education and employment in China’s dynamic economy.

Enter the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), which has introduced an innovative solution to address this gap. As part of its membership package for British universities, CBBC organises four annual networking events across different Chinese cities, each centred on a specific industry theme, such as artificial intelligence. These events are designed to connect alumni from CBBC member universities, ranging from fresh graduates to seasoned professionals holding senior roles, with local companies in the relevant sector. The events strike a balance between formal and informal elements, offering industry updates and presentations alongside opportunities for casual networking, where attendees can exchange WeChat details and forge meaningful connections.

The thematic focus of each event adds a layer of relevance that resonates with China’s rapidly evolving economy. Take, for example, the most recent forum, co-hosted with Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) in Shenzhen in April 2025. It brought together nearly 100 alumni, entrepreneurs and academic experts from across China to discuss the commercial and strategic implications of AI, a sector that has captured global attention and is a priority for China’s economic strategy. Alumni attending such an event might hear from industry experts about the latest advancements in AI, participate in discussions about market demands, and connect with companies seeking talent in this high-growth field. The informal networking sessions that follow allow for personal interactions that are often the catalyst for job opportunities or mentorship relationships. By facilitating these connections, CBBC helps graduates translate their UK education into tangible career outcomes, addressing the return-on-investment concerns that dominate the decision-making process for Chinese families.

What sets these events apart is their inclusivity and strategic focus. By inviting alumni from diverse academic backgrounds and career stages, CBBC creates a vibrant ecosystem where recent graduates can learn from the experiences of their more established counterparts. The involvement of local companies ensures that attendees gain insights into industry trends and access to potential employers, directly addressing the employability concerns that dominate decision-making for Chinese students. For universities, the events are a cost-effective addition to their membership, eliminating the need to organise standalone alumni gatherings in China at considerable expense. Instead, they tap into a ready-made platform that amplifies their reach and impact.

The value of these events lies not only in their structure but also in their potential to reshape perceptions of a British education. As Chinese students weigh their options, the promise of robust post-graduation support can tip the scales in favour of UK institutions. Universities that actively promote these events to their alumni are already seeing higher engagement rates, with graduates eager to leverage the opportunities for networking and career advancement.

“Unlike traditional alumni events, this forum emphasised practical, industry-driven insights and created opportunities for meaningful connections that extended beyond the day itself,” says Xue Shanshan, President of the University of Sheffield Alumni Association in South China. “From a career development perspective, the forum offers tremendous value. It provides attendees with real insights into industry trends and challenges, along with opportunities to connect with leaders in their respective fields,” says Xue.

“What sets the CBBC UK University Alumni-Industry Forum apart from other alumni or professional events is its focus on the intersection of industry, academia, and alumni relations,” says Dan Wang Deputy Minister, Event Department UCL Alumni Shanghai. “The event featured tailored insights from guest speakers, and the final panel discussion offered strategic guidance and practical advice that directly addressed the needs of participants, helping to resolve specific challenges,” he says. Such testimonials highlight the transformative potential of this initiative, which aligns academic achievement with professional success.

For British universities, the benefits extend beyond employability. By participating in these events, institutions can strengthen their brand presence in China, demonstrating a commitment to their graduates’ long-term success. This is particularly crucial at a time when competition for international students is fiercer than ever. Universities that understand and engage with CBBC’s initiative are better positioned to communicate its value to prospective students, highlighting not just the quality of their academic programmes but also the practical support available after graduation. This dual focus on education and employability could prove a decisive factor in reversing the decline in Chinese student numbers.

The success of these events, however, depends on active participation from universities. Institutions that have invested time in understanding the CBBC model are reaping the rewards, with higher alumni turnout and more robust engagement.

The broader implications of this initiative are significant. By fostering connections between alumni and industry, CBBC is not only supporting individual graduates but also strengthening the ties between British universities and China’s economic ecosystem. These events create a virtuous cycle: as alumni secure meaningful employment, they become ambassadors for their universities, showcasing the value of a British education to prospective students. This, in turn, can bolster recruitment efforts, helping universities navigate the financial challenges posed by declining international student numbers.

For Chinese graduates, the CBBC events offer a lifeline in a competitive job market. The opportunity to network with industry leaders and fellow alumni provides a sense of community and support that is often lacking for those returning to China after studying abroad. The exchange of WeChat details, a cornerstone of professional networking in China, ensures that these connections endure beyond the event itself, fostering long-term relationships that can lead to career opportunities. For parents and students weighing the cost of a UK education, the knowledge that such support exists could make all the difference.

For universities willing to embrace this opportunity, the rewards are clear: a more engaged alumni base, a stronger presence in China, and a compelling case for why a British education remains a worthwhile investment.

The Alumni-Industry events are part of CBBC’s broader ‘Access Talent’ initiative, which aims to connect CBBC’s university members to employers and provide them with insights into China’s job market. CBBC recently held a training day event, aimed at university professionals who work in careers support or employability roles: ‘Future in Focus: China’s Hiring Landscape – Staying Ahead in a Dynamic Job Market.‘ This was hosted by UCL, and welcomed over 50 guests, including representatives of 18 different universities. The event included an employer panel discussion, with HR representatives from the Bank of China, BYD, ICBC and Tong Global; a student panel; presentations from recruitment agencies in China, and a panel focusing on how to support Chinese students who wish to find work in the UK.

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China Joins WIPO’s Hague System And The Marrakesh Treaty

Two of the most significant developments of 2022 were the coming into force in China of the Hague Agreement and the Marrakesh Treaty, on 5 May 2022.

The Hague Agreement is an international treaty administered by WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organisation) that is related to the international registration of industrial designs. The ‘Hague System’ provides simple and convenient procedures for applicants to register an industrial design in multiple countries by filing a single application, filed in one language with one set of fees. China’s entry into the System should help Chinese designers protect and promote their designs in the 94 countries, including the UK, covered by the System more conveniently and cost-effectively. Moreover, foreign designers should find it easier to enter the Chinese market.

China became the 85th party to the Marrakesh Treaty, the only human rights treaty in the world in the field of copyright, which aims to provide access to and use of copyright works for people who are blind or visually impaired, in order to guarantee access to culture and education. China’s entry into the Treaty should increase opportunities for the blind and visually impaired in China to obtain copyright works and promote the overseas dissemination of Chinese works.

China’s ascension to the Hague System and the Marrakesh Treaty represents significant steps in global cooperation of these important agreements and should promote confidence in the users and beneficiaries of those systems.

A Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Use of Geographic Indications

The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) introduced China’s first five-year plan regarding the protection and use of geographical indications.

A geographical indication is a sign on a product that has a specific geographical origin and possesses qualities or a reputation specific to that origin.

The Plan promotes steady and reasonable growth in both the number of entities using geographical indications and the number of recognised geographical indications by 2025. In addition, China will put into place a series of standards for geographical indications, establish national demonstration areas for the protection of geographical indication products, and help with the protection of Chinese geographical indications overseas.

The CNIPA’s commitment to geographical indications should give consumers comfort in the provenance and quality of well-known and identifiable products and provide producers with reassurance that their efforts will be appropriately rewarded.

The CNIPA Continues To Crack Down On Malicious Trade Mark Registration

Malicious trade mark registration, i.e. trade mark ‘squatting’, has long been a bane of companies looking to enter the Chinese marketplace.

In its ongoing efforts to combat the issue, the CNIPA issued the “Notice on Continuing to Severely Crack Down on the Malicious Registration of Trade Marks”, which indicates that a zero-tolerance approach will be taken against malicious trade mark hoarding and squatting, brand imitation, ‘free riding’ and ‘clout chasing’.  There will also be a general crackdown on illegal acts which violate good faith, public order or good custom, as well as obtaining rights illegitimately and disruption of orderly trade mark registration.

The ‘Notice’ highlights typical illegal acts that will be cracked down on:

1. Applications for registration of marks that are the same as, or similar to, those used by, or in connection with important public institutions and works.
2. Trade mark applications that obviously exceed normal business needs, or are without any real intention to use.
3. Copying, imitating or plagiarising a large number of trademarks or other commercial properties having a certain reputation or strong distinctiveness.
4. Filing a large number of applications for registration marks that are the same as, or similar, to public cultural resources, administrative division names, common names of goods or services and industry terms.
5. Transferring large numbers of trademarks to multiple assignees, disrupting orderly trade mark registration.
6. Situations where a trade mark agency knows or should know that a party is engaging in any of acts 1 to 5 above but nevertheless accepts such a registration or assignment or otherwise acts improperly as a trade mark agent.
7. Other acts that may cause a significant negative impact on China’s trade mark registration management, public interest, or public order.

It seems that there is clear intent on the part of the CNIPA to meet the issue of malicious trade mark registration head-on. It just remains to be seen how effective the above measure will be.

The CNIPA Sets Out Plans To Update Major IP Legislations

The CNIPA published a plan for ‘In-depth Implementation of the Opinions on Strengthening Intellectual Property Protection’, setting targets for updating various regulations and guidelines as well as major tasks to be carried out in the coming years.

Specifically, the CNIPA intends to revise the Implementing Regulations of the Patent Law and the Guidelines for Patent Examination, new guidelines for trade mark law enforcement and cross-border e-commerce IP protection.  The CNIPA also aims to reform the utility model system by introducing an assessment of “obviousness” in its examination of utility models. Other tasks include amendment of Anti-unfair Competition Law, Trade Mark Law and its implementing regulations, Regulations for Copyright Collective Management, and Regulations for Protection of Information Dissemination Right.

These reforms seem to be a clear indication from China of the seriousness of its ambition to become a global leader of intellectual property rights.

Update To The Amendments To The China Patent Law

Of particular interest to patent applicants and right holders are the updates to the 4th Amendments to the China Patent Law, which were originally introduced in June 2021.  The most significant updates include:

1. Increasing the statutory sum of damages to a range between RMB 30,000 and RMB 5 million to take account of the difficulties faced by a patentee when collecting evidence of patent infringement.
2. Improvements to the system for design patents. Specifically, protection for partial design will be allowed, and the period of protection for design patents will be extended to 15 years. Additionally, a six-month priority period will be introduced for domestic design patent applications for the same subject matter.
3. Clarification regarding patent term adjustment (PTA), which allows the term of protection of an invention patent in China to be longer than the statutory 20-year term under certain circumstances. To determine the length of PTA, at the request of the patentee, the CNIPA shall consider any unreasonable delay to the grant of an invention patent, as well as any unreasonable delay caused by the applicant. The update provides guidance as to what does and does not amount to “unreasonable delays” by the CNIPA when granting a patent. These include suspension procedures, preservation measures, administrative litigation procedures, and re-examination procedures in which amendments are made by the applicant.
4. The introduction of an Open Licensing system, where a patentee can declare to the relevant authorities their willingness to authorise another party the right to work under the patent, and specify any appropriate royalties and a payment schedule.

As China begins to shake off the shackles of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is clear that it is continuing to support and evolve its intellectual property system. Businesses, both in China and those looking to enter the Chinese market, should look forward to 2023 with confidence that their intellectual property rights are valuable and will be respected.

Call +44 (0)20 7802 2000 or email enquiries@cbbc.org now to find out how CBBC can help you find the perfect partner or supplier to support the growth of your business in China.

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“Mr Science” has made many cameo appearances in the Party’s presentation of the birth of modern China. Now he is set to get his own show. First recruited by the May Fourth movement students of the early 20th century, “Mr Science” has inspired generations of Chinese scientists to push the boundaries in the pursuit of national greatness. Progress personified, President Xi appears keen to resuscitate him — science and technology has become one of his foremost ‘national projects.’ And President Xi is willing to spend. Forget the multibillion-dollar budget of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Chinese Communist Party is about to unleash a super-charged legislative agenda intended to see “Mr Science” turn the stuff of dreams into China’s every day. 

Enter the Science and Technological Progress Law (SPTL). The government hopes that its impact on society will be the same: to inspire China to look to infinity and beyond (to quote Buzz Lightyear). At 117 articles long, it is a treatise on adopting a top-down approach to fostering individual innovation. Concerningly for British businesses, the SPTL also contains several clauses that could see foreign firms excluded from public procurement programmes or their innovations commandeered by the Chinese Communist Party.

What is the Science and Technological Progress Law?

China’s leadership has long distinguished itself through its technocratic tendencies, while Western cabinets continue to more commonly consist of classicists rather than chemists. That alone goes a long way to explaining why the country is a leader in both the pursuit of a digital currency and the rollout of 5G technologies, and also now ranks first in terms of the number of filed patents. Take President Xi, for example – he is a chemical engineer and a scholar of Marxist theory by formal training, well versed in the affairs of the Soviet Union, whose government came to typify technocracy. He is far from alone in the top tiers of the Party in that regard. Now his government wants to “promote science and technology as the primary productive force… to support and lead economic and social development and build a modern socialist country in an all-around way.”

The SPTL is not a new law; the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress has passed revisions to legislation that came into force in 1993 before being revised once prior in 2007. That’s a point for the pedants, though, as CBBC has already heard from members that these changes have turned what used to be a benign piece of legislation that went largely unnoticed – given that the previous version existed as a piece of legislative advocacy rather than enforceable law — into a new non-market access barrier. Indeed, some provinces have reportedly interpreted the STPL as a new requirement to take a ‘China first’ approach to R&D funding and government procurement.

Highlights

The first thing to note is that the Chinese government has designed these amendments to emphasise the state’s role in innovation. President Xi’s approval of certain aspects of the Soviet Union’s approach to governance is well documented (as are his views on why it collapsed) – that the Party should be the determiner of technological progress, and that regulation falls firmly on the list of things to emulate. While the 2007 amendments emphasised more corporate engagement, this time around, lawmakers are putting in place a legal framework to boost state spending on “frontier technologies” such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

To that end, the NPC has written in Article 32 to the STPL: “For projects funded by the PRC government, the PRC government could use the resulting achievements with no compensation to the owner.” 

PRC legal pundits writing on the STPL have jumped on Article 32, chiefly because the “no compensation” clause can be triggered in the interests of “national security, national interest, and major social public unrest.” Everything under the sun can be linked to national security in China, from soil samples to basic chemicals that a quick Google search reveals can be bought on Amazon in the UK, and the prevalence with which officials will cite national security in China is only growing. As a result, going forward, British companies collaborating with Chinese partners on R&D may have to be careful about whether the project in question is PRC-funded, should they not wish their output to be used by the government for free.

After decades of entrepreneurs developing technologies and systems that seriously tested the state regulator’s ability to keep up, the STPL is about ensuring that the Communist Party of China is the one calling the shots in the country’s technological development

The revisions to the STPL also include a number of policies to encourage scientific research: 

• Article 41: Tax incentives – any R&D expenses incurred can be deducted from the tax bill
• Article 46: SOEs should up their game when it comes to R&D by pursuing more projects and by developing incentive systems and better ways of assessing their innovative capability
• Article 86: The state will increase the overall level of investment in science and technology
• Article 91: Preference to use products developed domestically in government procurement settings
• Article 92: Encourages IP lending (which is when a borrower receives funds secured on the value of their intellectual property) 

The remaining 101 Articles of the STPL offer little to write home about, predominantly stressing the need to carry various ‘spirits’ into Chinese R&D.

Causes for concern

Nevertheless, there remains plenty for companies to be concerned about. Article 42 is particularly eye catching, for it reads: “The state encourages enterprises to digest, absorb, re-innovate imported technologies.” This might be interpreted as a tacit endorsement of a return to the days when Chinese companies — particularly state-owned enterprises — were incentivised to pursue deals with foreign parties where the overseas firms would find themselves under pressure to transfer their technology in order to get the deal over the line. Then again, the STPL also includes several clauses on the need to continue improving China’s IP regime, so foreign firms will have to wait and see how Article 42 is applied in practice. 

Then there is Article 91, which seems to have PRC lawyers scratching their heads as to whether it is in accordance with World Trade Organisation rules and China’s obligations as a member: 

“Products that represent scientific and technological innovations produced by natural persons, legal persons, and unincorporated persons in China shall be purchased through government procurement under the condition that the indicators of function and quality can meet the needs of government procurement; if they are put on the market for the first time, government procurement shall take the lead in purchasing, and shall not be restricted on the grounds of commercial performance” 

With no further implementation guidance available at the time of writing, the best guess is that if the byproducts of R&D activities come into being within China — be it as the IP of a Chinese company or a foreign-invested entity — the Chinese government has an interest. Similar in intent to Article 32, this clause provides the government with unfettered access to the innovations that, particularly in the case of SOEs, one assumes the state will begin funding even more proactively than it does now. Expect further market distortions in China’s technology sectors if this is the case — how local governments interpret any subsequent guidance handed down in accompaniment to the STPL will be critical to whether Article 91 has a significant impact on industrial markets or not.

The CBBC view 

China’s scientists are to be put on a pedestal. While the Science and Technological Progress Law contains some worrying clauses for foreign businesses in China’s industrial markets, they are not the intended recipient. This legislation is about giving the government a legal basis to go big on tech. It is also about ensuring that the Communist Party of China is the one calling the shots in the country’s technological development, after decades of entrepreneurs developing technologies and systems that seriously tested the state regulator’s ability to keep up.

There are also the Party’s aspirations that further investment into the R&D activities of SOEs and universities will create more jobs, which it undoubtedly will — particularly for the hundreds of thousands of STEM graduates that leave university each year to enter an astoundingly competitive labour market. But China’s issues with relying on the SOEs to be the main source of the country’s ability to be innovative are well documented.

Science is being brought to the fore; the Party hopes to engineer the country’s achievements in science and technology into a source of national pride. Although China might have jumped the gun in its race to achieve technological supremacy, is the country ready to go it alone, as this legislation strongly suggests? Only time will tell.

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1. Will China be an IPR leader by 2035?

The best place to start with this round-up of 2021 is the release of the Outline of Building An Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Powerhouse (2021-2035). Why? Because the Outline sets specific five-year development goals aimed at transforming China into an IP powerhouse.  

For 2025, the key development goals include the following:

• The added value of patent-intensive industries will reach 13% of GDP
• The added value of copyright industries will reach 7.5% of GDP
• The total import and export of IP royalties will reach RMB 350 billion
• The number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people will reach 12

By 2035, the aim is basically for China to become a world leader on IP rights. To achieve these development goals, the Outline identifies tasks such as “constructing an IP protection system that supports a world-class business environment” and “participating in global IP governance.” Overall, it seems that China is intent on shifting its IP rights system away from quantity towards quality, which is good news for everyone.

2. China’s IP boom continues

China topped the ranking for total IP filing activity in the annual World Intellectual Property Indicators Report published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation. China was first in each category of IP applications (patents, trademarks, industrial designs, etc.), except for geographical indications, where it ranked second behind Germany.

It is hardly a surprise to see China topping the listing for IP filings in terms of pure numbers.  But what is interesting to note is that only approximately 7% of all applications from China were filed abroad. This very much points to an emphasis on quantity over quality. That said, with the new 2021-2035 ‘Outline’, it appears that the focus of IP in China will move from the pursuit of quantity to an improvement of quality.

3. Big news for pharma: China gets a US-style patent linkage litigation system

A development welcomed by pharmaceutical patentees in China, both big and small, has been the introduction of a new US-style litigation system, tying regulatory approval to the resolution of IP disputes. 

After a few initial teething issues, such as a lack of final implementation regulations, the system came online in July 2021. Notably, it appears that new medical uses for biologics are included in the system, while polymorph drug patents have been excluded. Of particular interest is the confirmation that generic pharmaceutical manufacturers are required to notify patentees within 10 days of their marketing authorisation application.

Further boons to life sciences innovators in 2021 included China’s introduction of patent term extensions for pharmaceutical-related patents, and a new process for requesting patent term adjustment to account for delays attributable to the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) during patent examination.  

4. China introduces its first comprehensive data protection law

The Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) was adopted on 20 August 2021 and entered into force on 1 November 2021. The PIPL adopts many of the principles and rules of the EU and EEA’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), such as clear provisions on individual rights and obligations for personal information handlers. It seems that China intends for the PIPL to be seen as forming part of a common international legal system. 

An interesting aspect of the PIPL is its applicability to state actors. It seems that the PIPL has primary applicability in the field of personal information protection, and so the state must respect and protect the right to personal information. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen exactly how state actors will comply with the PIPL and which provisions and obligations apply. 

5. Official IP protection guidance by China and the UK 

2021 marked the 25th anniversary of the formal establishment of cooperation between the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) and the CNIPA.  To mark the occasion, the two offices published bilingual guidelines for IP protection in the UK and China, with the aim of providing further guidance on the Chinese and British IP systems and delivering better services to innovators. 

The CNIPA’s guidelines (found here) focus on the legal protection and enforcement of Chinese trademarks.  The guidelines published by the UK IPO (found here) give an introduction to IP, guidance on applying for and protecting IP rights in the UK, and outline changes to the UK’s IP framework after Brexit.  

Once again it appears that, despite the uncertainties created by the Covid-19 pandemic, China’s ambitions for IP continue to evolve. 2022 should start to reveal the results of many of these changes, and we can look forward to continued cooperation between the Chinese and British IP systems.

Peter Mumford is an associate with Potter Clarkson LLP, a full-service European intellectual property law firm.

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