Innovation Norway, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in China, the China IP SME Helpdesk and European Union Chamber of Commerce in China jointly organised the EU-China IPR Workshop within the ReConnect China project in Beijing on 28 January 2026. The event focused on IPR in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), bringing together representatives from European institutions in China, international organisations, industry associations, professional service providers, and enterprises for an engaging knowledge exchange and intriguing discussion.
Reconnect China WP leaders deliver the opening address and introduce the project
The workshop was kicked off by the keynote speech of Mr Henning Kristoffersen, Commercial Counsellor at the Norwegian Embassy in China and Head of Innovation Norway in China, who stated that intellectual property serves as a crucial pillar for advancing innovation cooperation and sustainable development. He emphasised the need to continuously strengthen international exchanges and mutual trust-based collaboration.
Afterwards, Dr Gao Peng, Senior Commercial Officer for China at Innovation Norway and leader of WP1 of the Reconnect China project, outlined the background and objectives of the ReConnect China project. In 2026, WP1 will focus on hosting IPR and CCUS seminars, submitting multiple policy briefs and progress reports to advance key project objectives. Dr Gao Peng emphasised that the project will continue to establish a knowledge exchange platform for innovation cooperation between China and Europe.
Thematic sessions focus on IP practice experience in the AI era
After the introduction of the project, the workshop continued with thematic knowledge sharing sessions where Ms Helika Jürgenson, Project Manager of the EU-China IPR SME Helpdesk, outlined the platform’s services and enterprise support framework.
Mr Stephen Yang, Patent Agent and Managing Partner at IP March, delivered a presentation titled ‘The Role of Intellectual Property in Innovation During the AI Era,’ sharing strategies for intellectual property protection against the backdrop of rapid AI technological advancement.
Mr Paul Ranjard, representing the European Chamber of Commerce’s Intellectual Property Rights Working Group (IPR WG), shared practical insights on IP challenges faced by foreign enterprises in China and offered recommendations for corporate compliance and risk management.
Mr Yan Chunhui, Partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm, held a thematic presentation titled ‘Current Status and Outlook for Protection of Technology-Related Intellectual Property Rights in China’. He systematically outlined China’s institutional framework for protecting technology-related IP, with a specific focus on the pharmaceutical sector.
Mr Lv Guoliang, former Deputy Director of the WIPO China Office, and Mr Mr Ni Hao, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Beijing Intellectual Property Protection Association shared further insights on China’s intellectual property development.
In-depth discussions and interactions fostered exchange and cooperation
The workshop ended with a discussion session that resulted in practical policy proposals to the European Union included in the ReConnect China project report. Key issues such as cross-border IP dispute resolution mechanisms and risk prevention for SMEs were addressed. Moving forward, all parties from China and Europe will continue to leverage such exchange platforms to deepen collaboration in the intellectual property domain.
