Hefei's innovation cluster has achieved a significant milestone, securing the 32nd position in the latest global ranking. This marks a notable ascent of seven places from the previous year, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization's 2026 Global Top 100 Innovation Cluster Ranking released on September 8th.

Where does Hefei stand?

Within China's dynamic innovation landscape, Hefei now claims the 9th spot, moving up one place from last year's ranking. The Global Innovation Index cluster ranking, established in 2017, evaluates the top 100 innovation clusters worldwide annually. It identifies the concentration of world-class innovative activities in specific regions by tracking three core metrics: the number of international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the volume of scientific papers published, and the amount of venture capital transactions.

What are the key statistics?

Over the past five years, the Hefei cluster has generated a substantial output, including 4,979 PCT international patent applications, 55,257 scientific papers, and 961 venture capital deals. Enterprises and universities are the primary drivers of this innovation engine. In terms of PCT applications, a leading chip company dominates the field with 2,550 applications, representing 51% of the total cluster volume. Following behind is Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. with 211 applications (4%), and the University of Science and Technology of China with 150 applications (3%).

Regarding scientific publications, the Chinese Academy of Sciences leads with 11,142 papers, constituting 30% of the total. Hefei University of Technology contributes 6,485 papers (18%), and Anhui Medical University follows with 4,289 papers (12%).

Which sectors are most active?

Analyzing the technical fields, semiconductors are the dominant force in Hefei's PCT patent applications, accounting for a significant 35% share. This is nearly double the 19% held by computer technology, which ranks second. Other notable fields include electrical machinery at 10%, with measurement, consumer goods, and optics each occupying smaller portions. On the academic front, chemistry leads the scientific papers at 19%, followed by engineering at 17%. Physics and mathematics together account for 16%, while technical and other disciplines make up about 15%. Earth science, biochemistry and biotechnology, and applied biology also feature prominently in the publications.

What has fueled this growth?

In recent years, Hefei has proactively refined its intellectual property policy environment and institutional frameworks. These efforts have continuously advanced the city's construction of a robust intellectual property hub, providing strong support for its high-quality economic development. From January to July 2026, Hefei recorded 28,692 patent grants, a 1.22% increase year-on-year. Notably, invention patent grants surged by 38.49% to 11,978, accounting for 62% of the province's total. As of July 2026, the city holds 106,908 valid invention patents, a 21.3% increase year-on-year, representing 45.99% of the province's overall number. Hefei's invention patent ownership per 10,000 people now stands at 106.85, placing it fifth among all provincial capital cities and making it the tenth city nationally to surpass 100 patents per 10,000 residents, which highlights its strong innovation capacity.

Information source: National Intellectual Property Administration and Hefei Daily.