BEIJING -- The number of intellectual property protection centers under construction and in operation in China has reached 73, according to data released by the country's top IP regulator on Thursday.

These protection centers are distributed across 28 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, including two in South China's Hainan province, according to the China National Intellectual Property Administration.

The CNIPA recently approved the construction of a national IP protection center in Haikou, the capital of Hainan. In the future, it will carry out rapid and coordinated IP protection work for the equipment manufacturing and biopharmaceutical industries.

Haikou's strategic attraction of research institutions and high-tech enterprises has propelled robust growth, with the combined output value of these two industries having exceeded 40 billion yuan (about $5.6 billion) in Haikou in 2023.

"The IP protection center will further support the characteristic industries of Haikou in enhancing market competitiveness at home and abroad," said an official at the CNIPA.