The Qingdao Market Supervision Administration has been actively strengthening intellectual property rights (IPR) protection for foreign-invested enterprises through specialized "health check" services. This initiative reflects China's commitment to creating a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment.

The administration recently launched a citywide IP risk assessment campaign targeting foreign-invested firms. As part of this initiative, an expert team from the IP assistance workstation of the Qingdao Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone — also known as the Qingdao FTZ — conducted an in-depth IP "health check" for Siempelkamp (Qingdao) Machinery and Equipment Co Ltd.

The team systematically identified potential risks and provided detailed recommendations, including eight risk points and 17 trademark registration suggestions. They also offered guidance on patent applications, portfolio layout, and risk prevention.

"We felt more confident about our company's future development thanks to robust IPR protection," said a company executive.

The "health check" included comprehensive follow-up services. A week after the initial assessment, the team returned with an IP risk assessment report, detailing issues and providing targeted solutions such as split applications and logo copyright registration. Additionally, the team facilitated a cross-border communication bridge, helping the company report its IP status to its German headquarters.

This initiative is part of Qingdao's broader efforts to enhance IPR services. Since 2023, the administration has provided customized IP risk assessments for 12 foreign-invested enterprises, solidifying Qingdao's strong reputation when it comes to IPR protection and supporting the growth of foreign businesses in China.