1.2025 Intellectual Property for R&D Conference」 was held.
- The Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) finds future technology solutions with patent big data.
- The patent big data of 600 million cases are analyzed to present future food strategies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), robots, biotechnologies, etc.
-“From AI war to 6G”
MOIP held a 2025 Intellectual Property for R&D Conference from December 10 (Wed) to 12 (Thu), 2025. With the subject on ‘Designing the future with IP in the era of AI innovation’, this event was arranged to share the future of national strategic technologies analyzed through patent big data and the specific R&D solutions.
This conference was focused on presenting ‘patent strategies’ to overcome the waves of global technological supremacy competition, beyond a simple technical seminar. On the first day, December 10th, as a keynote speaker, Sangki HAN, Techfrontier CEO, talked about rapidly changing technology trends and response strategies under the theme of ‘From AI war to the era of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence)’. In the following session, the results of global patent analysis were published in the fields of national strategic technologies intensively developed by the government, such as AI supply chains, eco-friendly ships, advanced biotechnology, etc.
On the second day, December 11th, starting with a keynote speech (on utilization of patent strategies in the entire cycle of medical device R&D) by the head of Korea Medical Device Development Fund, a discussion to dominate the future market was followed. Notably, the industry experts including Kakao and POSCO Technology Investment, etc. presented their digital transformation and investment strategies. In addition, intensive discussions were made about plans to secure standard patents for future technologies, such as 6G communications, SDVs (software-defined vehicles), humanoid robots, etc., which have not yet had an absolute power.
This event was held together with an award ceremony for outstanding companies enhancing their R&D performance through patent strategies. Illimis Therapeutics, Thoth Inc., and YEST received the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award, and COAVIS, AP Systems, and LUCASBIO received the Award from the Minister of MOIP, and TCC Steel, WEVEN, and NEURIVE received the Award from the President of Korea Intellectual Property Strategy Agency.
The Minister of MOIP said, “In the era of technological hegemony competition, patent big data is the most accurate compass to reduce trials and errors in R&D and take the lead in super-gap technologies…I hope this conference will be an opportunity for Korea companies and researchers to gain insights to lead the future technology market.”
2. The 24th meeting of Korea Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (KIPTAB) and Korea Intellectual Property Association (KINPA) was held (December 9, 2025).
- A patent trial system to be completed with the voice of the field.
KIPTAB under MOIP had a meeting with KINPA on the topic of the trends of IP disputes, such as trademarks, etc., and the directions to improve the trial system, etc.
KIPTAB holds regular meetings with KINPA twice per year to listen to the voices of the field related to the trial system and to share the opinions. In this meeting, about 50 people including those in charge of IP rights of companies, etc. attended.
In this meeting, KIPTAB introduced court decisions and judicial precedents related to the use of trademarks for unauthorized purposes, focusing on actual cases, and KINPA member companies (DB INC. Junkwon JUNG, Pro) presented trademark big data analysis model cases.
Especially, Korea Trade Commission (KTC) of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) attended the meeting to share the system and recent cases related to the investigation of unfair trade practices. When the investigation of unfair trade practices and the trial cases are involved, KIPTAB and KTC have maintained a close cooperation system, such as the exchange of business information, so that investigations and hearings can proceed rapidly.
The President of KIPTAB said, “we will actively listen to the opinions from clients, such as companies, etc., and reflect them in improving the patent trial system, so that the system can properly function in the IP dispute field…We will also keep our effort to rapidly settle disputes through continuous collaboration with relevant organizations.
3. South Korea’s growth rate in the number of neuromorphic semiconductor patent applications ranked 2nd in the world, following China.
- Following US and China, South Korea ranked 3rd in the number of the relevant patent applications by applicant nationality, and following China, South Korea ranked 2nd in the growth rate thereof.
- Among the top 10 applicants, Samsung Electronics, ETRI, SK Hynix and Seoul National University were included.
MOIP conducted the analysis of the patents in the neuromorphic semiconductor field, which were filed the IP 5 (MOIP, USPTO, EPO, JPO and CNIPA) over the last 22 years (2003~2024). As a result, South Korea’s growth rate in the number of the relevant patent applications was 39.1%, ranking 2nd in the world following China (39.3%). In the terms of the number of the relevant patent applications by applicant nationality, South Korea was 702, ranking 3rd in the world, following US (1,528) and China (839).
Neuromorphic semiconductors can simultaneously process calculations and storage by mimicking the way the human brain processes information and have the advantage of being able to perform calculations with less power than conventional computing methods. Neuromorphic semiconductors are expected to be actively used in various advanced application technologies, such as autonomous driving, intelligent robots, biometrics, medical diagnostics, and edge devices, etc.
According to a market research company’s survey, the neuromorphic computing market is estimated to grow from $28.5 million in 2024 to $1,325.2 million by 2030, to reach an average annual growth rate of 89.7%.
The total of the patent applications in the neuromorphic semiconductor field, which were filed with IP 5 over the latest 5 years (2018~2022) was 1,896, showing an increase of about 120%, compared to 860 over the previous 5 years (2013~2017) and therefore, indicating the patent applications in the neuromorphic semiconductor field were found to be on a strong growth path.
By applicant nationality, South Korea filed 702 applications, ranking 3rd following the US (1,528) and China (839) and followed by Europe (281) and Japan (270). In terms of the growth rate, South Korea’s average annual growth rate was 39.1%, ranking 2nd only to China (39.3%) by a narrow margin. US’ average annual growth rate was 13.1%, ranking only 3rd, followed by Europe 9.2% and Japan 3.7%.
While IBM (345 applications) and Qualcomm (299) ranked 1st and 2nd, as Korean institutions, the 4 applicants, Samsung Electronics (183, 3rd), ETRI (85, 6th), SK Hynix (84, 7th) and Seoul National University (56, 9th), were included in the top 10 applicants. Notably, the number of the relevant applications filed by Samsung Electronics over the last 5 years (2018~2022) was 115, showing an increase of about 167% compared to 43 filed over the previous 5 years (2013~2017) and the number of the applications filed by ETRI remarkably increased from 7 to 60.
By applicant entity, companies filed the most applications with 2,287, accounting for 61.4% of the total, followed by universities with 935 (25.1%) and public institutions with 401 (10.8%).
The Director of the Semiconductor Examination Bureau of MOIP said, “as the technology maturity in the neuromorphic semiconductor field has increased, the competition to secure patent rights to take the lead in commercialization technology has been intensifying…we will positively support in establishing cooperation systems with the relevant organizations, such as the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Industry and Trade and sharing patent analysis results with the industry, so that Korean companies can lead the neuromorphic semiconductor technology field in the future.’
4. MOIP starts support to strengthen the competitiveness of next-generation communication (6G) standard patents.
- An on-site communication meeting was held with people in charge of patents in the telecommunication industry (December 3, 2025).
MOIP held an on-site communication meeting with the telecommunication industry-related people, to discuss current issues related to intellectual property.
This meeting was prepared to share MOIP’s support plan to secure IP competitiveness in the next-generation mobile communication (6G) field which is a Korean core strategic technology, and to listen to the voices on IP-related issues in the industrial field and to actively reflect them in patent administration.
In the meeting, MOIP introduced the results of analysis and research on the core technology of the next-generation mobile communication (6G) and the recent topics of interest in the telecommunication industry, such as the status of litigation of standard patents and employee inventions, etc., and exchanged opinions with people in the relevant industry.
The Director of the Electricity & Communications Examination Bureau of MOIP said, “we expect to contribute to strengthening the IP competitiveness and improving the examination quality in the communication field, by confirming the current status of South Korea’s telecommunication standard patents and listening to the voices from the telecommunication industry through this meeting…We will expand communications and cooperation with the telecommunication industry, to support the patent competitiveness of a national core strategic technology, 6G technology.”
5. MOIP held a public debate to respond to counterfeit products between South Korea and Japan.
- A place for cooperation was prepared to prevent the distribution of counterfeit products across borders.
On December 3, 2025, MOIP and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan held a public debate to respond to counterfeit products between South Korea and Japan in Tokyo, together with the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) and the Ministry of Finance Japan.
This public debate was arranged to bring together the experts from the governments and the related institutions and the business people in charge of IP protection of the two countries, to prevent the distribution of counterfeit products across borders, to share the relevant policies and seek joint response plans.
The public debate included a keynote speech and lectures by experts of the two countries and a panelist discussion. About 100 people including the Korean Ambassador to Japan, the Director of the Intellectual Property Dispute Resolution Bureau of MOIP and the Commissioner of JPO attended the public debate.
The keynote speech was given by Sawai Tomoki, Director of WIPO Japan Office, on the topic of the Korea and Japan IP cooperation to contribute to the future. He introduced the progress of cooperation between South Korea and Japan and look forward to future cooperation models. As the expert lectures, MOIP and JPO presented the two countries’ policies to respond to counterfeit products, and the Korea Customs Service and the Ministry of Finance of Japan presented their countermeasures against IP infringing products at customs.
The Director of the Intellectual Property Dispute Resolution Bureau of MOIP said, “in the era of the digital economy, counterfeit products are no longer a situation that can be solved only by the efforts of one country…We hope that this public debate will be an opportunity to further enhance the IP protection capabilities between the two countries and to establish close cooperation for joint response.”
6. A presentation was held for Korea, China and Japan patent trial users.
The Korea Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (KIPTAB) of MOIP held a 2025 presentation for Korea, China and Japan patent trail users on November 26, 2025.
This presentation was prepared to share the patent trial trends and system improvements of the three countries, South Korea, China and Japan, and to provide practical information on the overall operation of the invalidation trial system, thereby improve the ability of domestic users to respond to international intellectual property disputes.
This presentation focused on ▲ the three countries’ patent trial trends and major improvements, ▲ the procedures for filing invalidation trials and the practical tips, and ▲ the topics essential for implementation of international trial work, such as comparison of invalidation trial systems by country, etc. Specifically, in the invalidation trial field, the major procedural and institutional factors were introduced, such as a correction in an application for trial, a scope of submission of new argument and evidence, a notice of anticipated invalidity decision (scheduled to be introduced in South Korea), etc. All presentations were provided with simultaneous interpretation, thereby enhancing accessibility and convenience for participants.
In addition, a question-and-answer session was prepared so that delegations from each country directly answered the systems and procedures-related questions raised by the participants, thereby collecting a wide range of opinions from the field and increasing practical understanding.
The President of KIPTAB said, “this presentation was a significant opportunity to comprehensively compare the invalidation trial systems and the requirements for filing the invalidation trials of the three countries, South Korea, China and Japan…Notably, this presentation will be substantially helpful to Korean companies and experts when filing invalidation trials in each country, by providing practically useful information, such as ▲ procedural differences by country and ▲key points to keep in mind when filing a trial, etc.”
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