Cover photo (Photo/IC)

China witnessed 24 percent growth in patent applications, the world's fastest, reaching 16,665 in 2021, according to the European Patent Office.

Following the US, Germany and Japan, China grabbed fourth place on a list of European patent applications by country of origin.

Chinese companies such as Huawei, OPPO, ZTE and Baidu were included in the top 25 list for patent applications as well.

Editor: Wang Jianan