A workshop of Bullmer, a multinational company engaged in the R&D, production and sales of intelligent cutting beds, cloth laying machines and industrial sewing machines. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Six companies from Linhai, a county-level city in Taizhou, were designated national enterprises with strong intellectual property competiveness in 2022, bringing the total number of such companies in the city to seven, the most among administrative areas in Taizhou. 

Presently, Linhai is also home to five national model companies in IP development, according to the local market supervision authority.

A multinational company engaged in the R&D, production and sales of intelligent cutting beds, cloth laying machines and industrial sewing machines, Bullmer is an epitome of the city's growing IP competitiveness.

According to Chen Jianbo, general manager of Bullmer, the number of annual patent applications filed by the company has grown from five when it was established to about 100, with 97 percent of its patents now commercialized.

Bullmer's product sales amounted to about 930 million yuan ($134.78 million) in 2021, of which 850 million yuan stemmed from patented products.

That same year, the company made the list of 100 most innovative companies in Zhejiang province.

The incentives offered by the company and authorities have encouraged employees to prioritize innovation, Chen noted.

One incentive is a reward of 10,000 yuan for the development of an invention patent, according to Wang Junyue, a researcher at Bullmer, addding that the number of patents owned by one is a also important factor considered for a promotion.

In September 2022, Taizhou was included in a national program that involves building cities with strong intellectual property competiveness.