Zhejiang province has been taking the lead in innovation across China, with its rapid growth in intellectual property development and strong protection in this domain, officials said.

Xie Xiaoyun, head of the provincial intellectual property administration, revealed on Monday that Zhejiang has had 451,000 valid invention patents and over 4.91 million valid trademark registrations as of June, both standing at the forefront nationwide.

He told a news conference that the province has also strengthened IP protection by establishing 21 centers to better serve innovators and provide them with quick channels to address their IP issues.

Meanwhile, judges across the province have also been instructed to prioritize cases related to internet platforms, big data, algorithms and artificial intelligence within the realm of IP, with punitive damages for IP violators, said Xu Huichun, vice-president of the Zhejiang High People's Court.

He cited data as showing that from January 2022 to June this year, the provincial courts have tackled 111,000 first-instance IP lawsuits, with 65.7 percent of them involving the digital economy. In the past three years, the courts also imposed punitive damages in 109 cases, totaling 517 million yuan ($72.07 million).

He regarded private enterprises as the main force driving high-quality economic development in Zhejiang, emphasizing the significance of protecting their IP rights.

"To reach the goal, we've increased exchanges with the companies both online and offline, to learn about their IP needs and concerns in a timely manner," he said.

In the past three years, the number of valid invention patents owned by private enterprises has increased by 150 percent, he added.

Zhejiang, located in eastern China, is renowned for its vibrant tech industry hub, housing a multitude of internet and technology companies alongside emerging artificial intelligence enterprises. It is also a pioneer in the country's modernization efforts. "IP contributes to the prosperity of businesses, optimization of industries, and accelerated development," Xie said. "On the way to building a powerful IP province, we'll explore new protection regulations in more fields and focus more on promoting high-level opening-up to the outside world, making our own effort to serve the construction of a strong IP nation".