On June 16, 2025, the Discussion on Intellectual Property Protection for Traditional Chinese Medicine under Macao’s Appropriate Economic Diversification Plan, organized by the Faculty of Law of Macau University of Science and Technology(MUST) and supported by Macao Foundation, was successfully held at PKU BoYa International Hotel in Beijing. Chaired by Assistant Dean YI Zaicheng, the event featured presentations by Executive Dean SONG Wei the of the School of Intellectual Property at the University of Science and Technology of China, Researcher WANG Lijun from the Documentation Center of Renming University of China, alongside MUST Faculty of Law Associate Professor PENG Yunpeng and Assistant Professor LIAO Si.
Associate Dean YI Zaicheng opened the discussion by introducing distinguished guests and delivering welcome remarks. Participants then engaged in in-depth discussions on key topics:
Assistant Professor LIAO Si presented findings from the Macao Foundation-funded project Intellectual Property Protection for Macao’s TCM Industry under Economic Diversification, analyzing current IP protection frameworks for TCM in Macao and the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone. He addressed critical patent/trademark challenges and policy considerations.
Executive Dean SONG Wei emphasized IP’s role in industrial development and TCM cultural preservation. Citing judicial cases, he outlines trade secret protection mechanisms and advocated for a “dual-path approach” combining patents and trade secrets. He further recommended examining commercial symbol protection feasibility across Hengqin and Macao.
Researcher WANG Lijun proposed policy strategies aligned with national objectives. Stressing region-specific development for Hengqin-Macao TCM industries, she advised grounding cross-jurisdictional IP solutions in existing international frameworks and enhancing synergy between Macao's IP legal system and mainland regulations.
The speakers’ insights provided invaluable guidance for the research project and offered significant recommendations for advancing TCM industries in Macao and Hengqin.
