The opening ceremony of the 16th China (Wuxi) International Design Expo is held in Wuxi on Nov 14. [Photo/wxrb.com]

Ten industrial designs were awarded in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province on Nov 14, at the opening ceremony of the 16th China (Wuxi) International Design Expo.

The national award, jointly presented every year by the National Intellectual Property Administration (NIPA) and the World Intellectual Property Organization, is the top honor in the nation which recognizes outstanding industrial designs.

The 10 winning designs were displayed at the expo's exhibition zones.

The expo, with a focus on "Intelligent Innovation, Ingenious Creation", covered an area of 24,600 square meters and included four theme areas. The exhibits, which were made by more than 200 participants, focused on everything from automobiles to household appliances, said Lei Xiaoyun, head of the IP utilization promotion department at NIPA.

An exhibition area of the 16th China (Wuxi) International Design Expo. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxifabu2013]

The event invited more than 30 industry experts to attend its industrial forums, where they delivered speeches and conducted exchange on topics including innovation and design, IP protection and manufacturing innovation.

Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers said they also established an online platform to provide exhibitors with 3D display systems and livestreaming services.

Compared to previous years, this year's expo offered a more distinct aesthetic and memorable experience for audiences and encouraged more interaction, according to Lei.

The expo, co-organized by NIPA, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Jiangsu provincial government, has been held 15 times since 2000 and aims to promote China's IP and design around the world.