WIPO GREEN Welcomes Ambassador Zou Ling: Driving Innovation and Collaboration Across China

WIPO GREEN is pleased to spotlight Mr. Zou Ling, Chairman of Tianjin TEDA Energy Group, as the WIPO GREEN Ambassador in China. With a strong background in enterprise leadership and a deep commitment to sustainable development, Mr. Zou has played a pivotal role in expanding WIPO GREEN’s impact across Chinese cities and institutions.

Since his appointment in late 2023, Mr. Zou has actively fostered public-private-academic partnerships, supported major green tech deployment projects, and championed intellectual property (IP) as a driver of climate solutions. Under his leadership, China’s contribution to the WIPO GREEN database has grown significantly, with partnerships now including Huawei, CATL, GCL Group, Xiaomi, among others.

Mr. Zou’s strategic vision also includes supporting global South-South cooperation, with a specific interest in increasing collaboration with African countries on sustainable innovation and technology transfer.

We asked Mr. Zou the following questions as part of our WIPO GREEN Ambassador interview series:

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you think sustainable development is important?

My name is Zou Ling. I am an entrepreneur and active participant in China’s rural revitalization movement. My life journey has been shaped by a series of diverse experiences, each one contributing to a deeper understanding of the meaning and importance of sustainable development.

The seed of my sustainable thinking comes from my time in the Yuzixi Village, where I served as Party Secretary and Head of the Village, helping the community secure projects related to environmental protection, funding, and talent.  The village earned several honors, including “Sichuan Provincial Demonstration Village for Rural Revitalization,” and “Hygienic Village.”

In 2023, I was appointed as a WIPO GREEN Ambassador. This role placed me at the forefront of global sustainable development efforts and allowed me to observe diverse innovative practices from around the world. I came to understand the central role of IP in facilitating the transfer and application of green technologies. Through the WIPO GREEN platform, I witnessed how sustainable innovation can achieve economic, environmental, and social value through effective IP protection and utilization.

Additionally, I have worked to elevate China’s global presence in green innovation through the WIPO GREEN Acceleration Project, and I have actively supported green technology transfer events and IP training programs such as the WIPO GREEN IP Management Clinic, contributing to enhanced public awareness. These efforts have helped small and medium-sized enterprises improve their IP capabilities and broaden the application of green technologies.

By protecting and leveraging IP, traditional knowledge and modern technologies can be integrated to create competitive, market-ready products that generate economic, environmental, and social benefits. Looking ahead, I will continue my efforts to promote sustainable development and fulfill my commitment to creating a greener, more inclusive future for generations to come.

2. What unique role can China’s industry and innovation sector play in advancing global climate and sustainability goals?

China is a leading global contributor to green technology innovation. According to the 2024 Statistical Analysis Report on Green and Low-Carbon Patents published by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), between 2016 and 2023, Chinese applicants filed 555,000 green and low-carbon patent applications, accounting for 43.5% of the global total. During the same period, CNIPA published 573,000 green and low-carbon patent applications, representing 44.9% of global applications. China is now both the world’s largest source of such patent filings and a major target market for green and low-carbon technologies.

As a key partner of WIPO GREEN – WIPO’s platform for addressing climate change and promoting sustainability – China has contributed over 12,000 green technologies to the WIPO GREEN database, covering areas such as transportation, energy, water resources, agriculture and forestry, pollution control, and building materials. These contributions account for 8.6% of all entries in the database, injecting strong momentum into the global green transition.

3. What are your top priorities or areas of focus during your term as Ambassador?

As the WIPO GREEN Ambassador in China, I have prioritized advancing international cooperation on green technologies through close collaboration with governments, enterprises, academia, and research institutions. I also aim to help Chinese innovators leverage the WIPO GREEN platform to drive sustainable innovation and to share China’s practical experience in low-carbon development with the global community. My work focuses on the following three areas:

(1) Building a Broad Strategic Network and Deepening Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation

(2) Promoting Green Technology Transfer and Enhancing China’s Global Innovation Impact

(3) Empowering SMEs and Raising Public Awareness

Although the road to sustainable innovation is not without challenges, I firmly believe that by working together, we can build a greener, more sustainable future toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

4. Why do you think innovators and industry leaders should use WIPO GREEN?

As a key WIPO platform for promoting sustainable development and addressing climate change, WIPO GREEN is dedicated to facilitating the global exchange and deployment of green technologies. It is the largest platform of its kind within the UN system and was recognized during the 2023 United Nations SDG Summit’s Digital Day as a “game-changing digital solution addressing climate change.” For innovators and industry leaders, WIPO GREEN offers a global channel for showcasing technologies, fostering international cooperation, and enhancing global visibility.

Through its Acceleration Projects, WIPO GREEN supports concrete matchmaking and demonstration efforts in specific regions and industries. In China, the Beijing pilot has facilitated the signing of ten memoranda of understanding, involving low-carbon technology applications such as community charging stations and smart waste-sorting systems. These projects have been featured in the WIPO GREEN Yearly Report. The Shanghai pilot successfully facilitated the deployment of an autonomous mobile fast-charging robot, capable of operating flexibly in confined spaces and completing a full charge in just 15 minutes. These initiatives not only reflect the dynamism of local green innovation but also demonstrate WIPO GREEN’s effectiveness as a bridge throughout the entire process—from identifying technology needs to securing cooperation and implementing projects.