(Yicai Global) Jan. 19 -- China saw increased patent applications last year, signalling its efforts on innovation paves the way for fast development of technology sector. The number of state-owned enterprises which applied for patent last year was noteworthy, while geographical distribution of patent applications is also indicative of tech and innovation centers of the country.

Approximately 1.38 million patent applications were filed in the Chinese mainland last year, up 14.2 percent year-on-year. Of nearly 420,000 patents granted, 327,000 were from domestic inventors, an increase of 8.2 percent from a year earlier, showed data from the state intellectual property office yesterday.

The State Grid Corporation of China tops the list of the most prolific patent filers, with 3,622 inventions patented. It is followed by Shenzhen-based telecommunication device and equipment manufacturer Huawei Technologies Co. (2,567 patents) and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (1,845) at second and third places.

As of the end of last year, invention patent ownership on the Chinese mainland had amounted to 1.36 million, averaging 9.8 patents every 10,000 people. Beijing has the highest rate of patent ownership (94.5 per 10,000 people), followed by Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong.

Last year, Chinese inventors took out a total of 5,608 patents in countries along the Belt and the Road, up 16 percent. The numbers of Indian and Russian patents were 2,724 and 1,354, respectively.