Editor's note: Intellectual property, or IP is a key factor for innovation and development in the modern world. As China celebrates the 50th anniversary of its cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization or WIPO in 2023, it also showcased its achievements and efforts in fostering a culture of IP that respects knowledge, advocates innovation, abides by the law and competes fairly. In this series, we feature the stories of foreign students who are studying IP in Shanghai, one of China's most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities. They share their experiences of living and learning in Shanghai and their insights into the importance and challenges of IP in the global context.  

[Video/WeChat account: Shanghai_IPA]

Russian student Anna Pokrovskaya from the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property (SICIP) feels that Shanghai, with its abundant resources, serves as a window through which she observes and comprehends the impact of intellectual property rights in a globalized context.

Fluent in five languages and with a background working at Russia's largest tech park, the Innovation Center Skolkovo, Pokrovskaya believes innovation and creativity stand as pivotal forces for global change. Captivated by Shanghai's allure, she applied for and secured the Chinese Government Scholarship to study at the SICIP as a master's student of Belt and Road Program.

She recently visited Beijing for a Belt and Road training program with her classmates. They attended sessions organized by the China National Intellectual Property Administration, learning about China's IP history, legal practices, and policies. They also visited the WIPO China Office, gaining insights into the evolving global intellectual property ecosystem that encourages innovation.

Pokrovskaya observed that China has an excellent business environment, which has fostered leading tech enterprises in social media, esports, and smart transportation. By engaging with Chinese legal professionals, she explored new technologies like artificial intelligence.

Pokrovskaya values her time in China and Shanghai. The comprehensive curriculum and interactions with professionals have expanded her perspective, inspiring her to think critically about the role of IP in innovation and business strategies.