Academics in China will now be able to own the patent rights for intellectual property resulting from publicly funded work. An amended version of the Chinese science and technology constitution aims to encourage innovation by allowing scientists to own their intellectual property and to spin off companies using their inventions. Tax regulations will also be changed to encourage innovation in high-tech enterprises.

The amendment to the Law on Science and Technology Progress was passed on 29 December and will come into force on 1 July. The new law also allows researchers doing high-risk experiments to report them as incomplete or failed without damaging their chances of future funding.