The CRISPR Patent Landscape: Focus on Chinese Researchers

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Intellectual Property Law
• Genomics

Background:

• Chinese scientists are prominent in genome-editing research.
• The legal, economic, and scientific development of patented CRISPR technologies in China remains under-examined.
• Understanding China's CRISPR patent landscape is crucial for the global scientific community.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the positioning of Chinese academic and industrial entities in CRISPR patenting.
• To review the applications and CRISPR components claimed in Chinese patent documents.
• To assess the trends and scope of China's CRISPR patent landscape since 2014.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of CRISPR patent documents filed by Chinese academic and industrial entities.
• Categorization of patents based on application fields and claimed CRISPR components.
• Trend analysis of patent filings from 2014 onwards.

Main Results:

• Distinct profiles emerged between academic and industrial patent assignees.
• The majority of patent families focus on applications in human therapeutics and diagnostics, including genome editing and nucleic-acid detection.
• China has rapidly established a significant and diverse CRISPR patent landscape since 2014.

Conclusions:

• China's research and development in CRISPR technology has led to a substantial and varied patent portfolio.
• The findings highlight the need for international attention to China's advancements in CRISPR intellectual property.
• The study provides insights into the strategic positioning of Chinese players in the global CRISPR innovation ecosystem.