Guide to Effective Protection of IPR for the Mechanical Engineering Sector

As ‘the world’s factory’ China has a high demand for the machinery and tools required for manufacturing on a massive scale. In particular the demand for high quality and innovative products in the mechanical engineering sector makes China a great potential market for European manufacturers. However, imitation and counterfeiting in the Chinese market can also lead to financial losses. Due to the economic boom in the last few decades, China has been, and remains an appealing market for European companies from the mechanical engineering sector. In 2020, the Chinese exports for the mechanical and electronic products were of RMB 106.6 million (EUR 14.7 million) representing a growth over 6% in comparison with the previous year1. Growth in the mechanical engineering sector is reinforced by Made in China 2025 plan, an initiative which strives to secure China’s position as a global powerhouse in high-tech industries.