Abstract:

This paper reviews recent patents on low-carbon technologies related to beer production in China with the aim
of providing references and supports for related enterprises and research instituations to plan future patent applications and
formulate market strategies. The patents which have been published during January, 1986—August, 2012 were retrieved
from the patent database of State Intellectual Property Office of P. R. China (SIPO) based on M-Trend platform and analyzed
in terms of quality and quantity, patent type, development trend, life cycle, focus degree, major countries and regions of the
applicants, patent applicants and major technological fields. The results indicate that the field of low carbon technologies
related to beer production in China is rapidly growing, which is reflected by a rapid increase in the number of patent applic
ations, increasingly elevated focus degree, continuously strengthened positionof low-carbon technologies in the beer field,
and more reasonable patent structure and technological distribution although the international competitors are in infancy.
However, some problems are still being faced such as lagging development, smaller proportions in the whole beer field, and
relatively little investment for patents. In addition, a whole industry chain has not formed yet.

Key words: China’s beer industry, low carbon technology, patent analysis, intellectual property, innovation, development