In Depth: Self-Styled ‘Godfather of Patents’ Rises, Falls on China’s Innovation Obsession

Liu Hua was a manager at a mold-making factory in the South China city of Zhongshan when he received an unusual call one day in 2017. On the other end of the line was a representative from a company called Huiju, telling Liu that his small company of just 25 employees and annual sales of 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) could be eligible for government subsidies designed to foster innovation.