South Korea retakes the world’s fourth place in terms of international patent applications

[Photo provided = imagetoday]

The Korea Intellectual Property Office announced on 4th that South Korea surpassed Germany and took the world’s fourth place in terms of WIPOs international PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) patent applications in 2020 following China the U.S.A. and Japan.

The number of PCT patent application cases in South Korea exceeded 20000 for the first time in history doubled in 9 years later since the number of cases surpassed 10000 in 2011.

Despite worldwide economic recession due to COVID-19 the number of PCT patent application in South Korea increased 5.2% year on year and recorded the greatest increase among the top 10 PCT patent application countries following China (16.1%) and Switzerland (5.5%).

In each technical field it shows PCT patent application has increased especially in digital transition and non-contact field for the response for COVID-19 situation. In each applicants patent applications from colleges small business and large companies have increased each 17.6% 5.6% and 2.2% which is showing the effort to secure international intellectual property rights in the difficult situation because of COVID-19.

Meanwhile the number of cases of the worldwide PCT patent applications in 2020 is 275900 4.0% increased year on year and China has made applications about 68720 cases and ranked the world first place 2 years in a row.

The PCT patent applications in China increased 16.1% year on year and the gap between the U.S.A. has widened from 1694 cases to 9490 cases and PCT patent applications in Japan and Germany have decreased each 4.1% and 3.7% compared to the last year.

3 companies from China including Huawei (1st) 3 companies from Japan including Mitsubishi (3rd) Samsung Electronics (2nd 3093 cases) and LG Electronics (4th 2759 cases) from South Korea and Qualcomm (5th) from the U.S.A. have been included in the top 10 company applicants of the worldwide PCT patent applications.

The number of PCT patent application in LG Electronics increased 67.6% year on year and recorded the greatest increase of applications among the top 10 companies of the worldwide PCT patent applications and Samsung Electronics has moved up its rank in a row from 6th in 2018 3rd in 2019 and 2nd in 2020. However LG Chem fell 3 places from 11th to 14th due to the decrease of PCT patent applications.

Huawei has applied for about 5400 cases last year which is similar to the sum of PCT patent application cases of both Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics and took the world’s first place of PCT patent application for 4 straight years since 2017.

The top 20 university applicants of the worldwide PCT patent applications have included 6 universities including California State University (1st) from the U.S.A. 9 universities including Shenzhen University (3rd) from China 2 universities including the University of Tokyo (10th) from Japan and 3 universities such as Seoul National University (12th) Hanyang University (17th) and Korea University (19th) from South Korea.

Notwithstanding the increase of patent application Seoul National University and Hanyang University have dropped 3 places each to 12th and 17th from 9th and 14th and Korea University has climbed up 3 places to 19th from 22nd thanks to the increase of patent applications. Besides Yonsei University has soared its ranking to 22nd due to 125% of increase of patent applications and KAIST has dropped its ranking 14 places to 33rd.

In the meantime KIPO has been supporting with Global IP Star Enterprise Promotion Small Business IP Direct Support Start-up Intellectual Property Voucher Fund of Fund and Intellectual Property Mutual Aid for invigoration of international application.

Henceforward KIPO is planning to hold a joint briefing session for small business university and public research institute with WIPO to promote PCT system and furthermore carry forward a specific plan through close cooperation with WIPO for companies in South Korea to make the best use of PCT system.

Dae-soon Jeong the section chief of Multilateral Affairs Division in KIPO said “This result shows one of the good examples that Korean companies are securing their international property rights actively for global competitiveness improvement despite economical depression due to COVID-19” and added “KIPO is planning to push various supporting policies actively so that Korean companies can protect their key technology with intellectual property rights in overseas.”

Status of PCT patent application by the top 10 countries [Information provided = KIPO]

Website: : https://www.wip-news.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=5400