The first patent examination cooperation center in western China started operation on March 20 in Chengdu. The center, the sixth of its kind outside Beijing, examines applications for invention patents and international patents through the Patent Cooperation Treaty. It also offers IP consultation services. The center has more than 200 examiners, but the number is expected to grow to 2,000 by 2018, when it is due to examine up to 110,000 applications a year.