Dyson hopes to clean up in China (4)

Investing in innovation

To achieve continuous innovation, Dyson Ltd has spent more than 100 million sterling pounds investing in a new, compact digital motor. Spinning at 100,000 revolutions per minute, it is four times faster than a Formula One engine.

"It's the brains behind our handheld vacuum cleaners and Airblade hand driers, giving high performance from a compact and efficient motor," said Dyson.

He will put a significant proportion - 20 percent - of profits back into research and development in the next five years. The company has a pipeline of technology which stretches back 25 years.

Many of the ideas are in their formative stages but research into new materials and their possible application is "exciting", said the founder. "It will allow us to create high performing technology and continually challenge ourselves to do more with less," said Dyson.

From 1979 to 2012, Dyson Ltd had gathered more than 1,900 patents and 1,000-plus registered designs worldwide.

As a user of made-in-China and designed-in-China products, James Dyson said China seems to be a pivot point.

"There is a growing awareness of and impatience with copycats. People are demanding better quality, well designed products from domestic and international companies," he said.

Before Dyson Ltd officially launch its products in China in 2011, many cheap copycats with labels including "Replica of Dyson" or "Dyson-style" were widely seen, especially on e-commerce platforms.

James Dyson said a rigid intellectual property system is essential to protecting technology sold in China, both granting and enforcing patents.

"Great progress has been made by the courts in processing litigation, but inventions and ideas need to be protected on the streets as well as in the courts. The investment in innovations is offset by the ability to protect our inventions and we do so determinedly," said Dyson.

In 2012, his company spent 35 million yuan battling copycats, only to make a tiny fraction back in damages, according to its own statistics.

"This is money that could be re-invented into new jobs and developing new technology. As an inventor, I look at one of my machines and see all the time, money and effort that has gone into it. Infringers see a cheap win. We will continue to proactively protect our technology and be an advocate for ideas," said James Dyson.