GLP received the prestigious ‘Outstanding International IP Service Team’ award during the 16^th Enterprise IP Strategy Forum & Annual Conference of In-house IP Managers, the most important event in China for in-house IP managers.

The award was presented by IP Observers, China's leading intellectual property news and information source, and is based on a rigorous and professional evaluation that includes: effectiveness and reliability of services provided, direct feedback ratings and recommendations from in-house managers, organisational strength, market understanding and other factors – recognises GLP's excellence in offering high-quality services for patents, trademarks and, in general, in developing effective protection strategies.

The award was given to only two other European firms – not Italian – and one US firm.

Read the official announcement on China IP Today

This recognition – now in its sixth consecutive year – takes on particular value in the current context: over the last decade, China has undergone an unprecedented transformation in intellectual property, moving from an emerging player to an absolute global leader. According to the latest global intellectual property indicators published by WIPO:

• Patent applications: more than doubled in ten years, from around 928,000 in 2014 (34.6% of the global share) to over 1.8 million in 2024 (49.1% of the global share).
• Grants: in 2024, patents granted in China exceeded one million, more than three times those in the United States, with uninterrupted global leadership since 2015.
• Patents in force: increased from approximately 2–3 million in 2014 to 5.7 million in 2024, with nearly 700,000 new patents in 2024 alone.

These figures reflect long-term national industrial policies, which have placed China as the world leader in grants for 10 years, now accounting for approximately 50% of global patent filings and 70% of all filings in Asia.

Operating successfully in such a demanding and rapidly growing market requires more than just technical expertise. In China, trust is not declared but proven over time. Since the 1989 visit of an official delegation from the Chinese Intellectual Property Office to GLP's headquarters (the first firm in Europe), ongoing recognition confirms the firm's ability to offer consistency, transparency and high-end, effective services year after year.

Strengthening its role as a reliable strategic partner for companies creating value between Europe and China, this achievement consolidates GLP's position as an international benchmark, capable of combining technical excellence, in-depth market knowledge and long-term relationships based on trust.

We thank both the Chinese colleagues and the IP counsels of Chinese companies who expressed their preference for GLP.