On April 7, WIPO released World Intellectual Property Report, reviewing the characteristics of the development of science and technology innovation during the period from the last century to present days and providing guidance to innovation development and protection under the background of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The report has examined the rate of patent applications filed over the last century, in which innovation was primarily driven by the transportation sector prior to 1925 (with an annual growth rate of about 21%, representing 28% of all applications in 1925), while from 1926 to 1960, the medical sector became an important boost (with an annual growth rate of about 5%, representing 7% of all applications in 1960). And from 1961 to 2000, the sector of computer and related innovation (ICTs) was the main driver (with an annual growth rate of about 8%, representing 24% of all applications in 2000).

Currently in the 21st century, digitalization is the new big innovation revolution,as digital innovation quadrupled in the 20 years up to 2020, when it represented 12% of all patent applications, with a 13% annual growth rate. Moreover, new technologies can be leveraged to achieve economic development at a large scale. By 2020, Japan-based innovators held 25% of the world's ICT-related patents, followed by Republic of Korea with 18% and China, at 14%.

In addition, since the oil price shock in 1973, global innovation in low-carbon emission technologies has grown by 6% annually until 2012, but green innovation has stagnated since then.