Date: July 10, 2007
Source: KIPO
The number of patent applications filed recently by universities is drastically increasing. In particular, applications related to the electric/electronic field are showing a prominent growth.
This growth is made possible by the increased level of investment in universities from the national R&D budget. As patents are becoming more recognized in the standard of assessing national R&D projects, more universities are steadily filing patent applications to secure competitiveness in intellectual property.
According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO, Commissioner: Sang-Woo Jun), the number of patent applications filed by Korean universities increased from about 300 in 1997 to 4,300 in 2006, showing an average growth rate exceeding 35% a year. Such increase was especially prominent after 2003, when universities began to recognize the importance of patents and promoted the organization of departments specializing in patent management.
Among the patent applications filed by universities, ones related to the electric/electronic field showed a higher increase rate. Looking at the application status of major technologies in the field, the number of applications related to the field of measurement/testing and electric communication each increased from 51 and 74 in 2002 to 333 and 733 in 2006. Meanwhile, the number of applications related to the field of electronic devices increased from 93 in 2002 to 457 in 2006, and the field of internet/computer from 81 in 2002 to 443 in 2006. In short, patent applications related to the electric/electronic field held a significant share among the overall applications, as well as showing a steady rate of increase.
As the electric/electronic/IT fields in Korea have been showing remarkable growth since the latter half of 1990s, commercial companies and universities are participating actively in related R&D and technological development. The increase of related patents filed by universities is part of this development.
Most of the venture companies started within universities are focused on the electric/electronic field. R&D activities connected with university venture companies result in the filing of patent applications as well as in the practicing of actual businesses. This cycle connects with R&D to create a ‘virtuous circle.’
In the past, universities filed patents only to secure rights related to their R&D performances. Recently, they are becoming more active in promoting technology transfer, the actualization and improvement of productivity by cooperating with companies and research labs. This type of aggressive move from universities is expected to make universities’ R&D though intellectual properties even more dynamic.