The Korean Intellectual Property Office announced on the 19th that it has newly designated the fields of bio, advanced robotics, and artificial intelligence as priorities for examination, following semiconductors, displays, and secondary batteries, and will expand the scope of application for the secondary battery field to reassign it.
Being designated as a priority for advanced technology examination shortens the patent application review period to two months. The Korean Intellectual Property Office selected semiconductors, followed by displays and secondary batteries, as priorities for examination starting in November 2022, and has now added bio, advanced robotics, and artificial intelligence. This means that all four national advanced strategic industries are now subjects of priority examination.
The existing secondary battery field will also have its scope expanded. Previously, priority examination was applied only to technologies related to secondary battery materials, components, equipment, manufacturing, or design, but now performance testing and evaluation, control management (BMS), or recycling technologies will also be subjects of priority examination.
Priority examination for carbon-neutral green technology will also be expanded. The priority examination, which was limited to carbon dioxide capture, transportation, and storage technologies, will be significantly broadened to encompass next-generation nuclear, renewable energy technologies, and all carbon-neutral green technologies. Hydrogen, ammonia, next-generation nuclear, and advanced mobility will all become subjects of priority examination.
The priority examination system has also been improved. The requirement for companies applying for priority examination, which they had deemed a burden, to conduct their own preliminary technology investigations has been removed from the mandatory requirements, and the application criteria have been relaxed. For universities and public research institutions, it has been made possible to prove readiness for implementation with only a technology transfer contract.
Korean Intellectual Property Office Commissioner Kim Wan-ki noted, "In the rapidly changing technological competition era, securing rights quickly is most important," and added, "The Korean Intellectual Property Office will continuously seek support measures to ensure that domestic corporations can lead innovation in national advanced strategic industries and carbon neutrality fields."