PCT International Patent Applications in ‘Chemistry and Medical Technology Fields’ Continuously Increasing During the Most Recent 5 Years
- Trend Analysis of PCT International Patent Applications in ‘Chemistry and Medical Technology Fields’ Filed with KIPO During the Most Recent 5 Years (‘14~’18) -
According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), PCT international applications received by KIPO for chemistry and medical technology have increased by an annual average of 11.2% during the most recent 5 years, a high growth trend (3,126 cases in 2014 → 4,772 cases in 2018). Comparing this to overall PCT international applications increasing by an annual average of 6.6%, said value is about 2 times higher, so it can be seen that patent applications are acrively entering foreign markets in these fields.
<Status of applications for all PCT international applications and
for the chemistry and medical treatment fields during the most recent 5 years>
Looking at the average annual rate of increase by detailed technology within the fields of chemistry and medical technology, the percentage of applications was highest for organic fine chemistry 19.7%, followed by food chemistry 17.6%, material/metallurgy 17.3%, medical treatment technology 13.9%, pharmaceuticals 11.7%, surface coating technology 11.2% and biotechnology 10.6%, in order.
Also, thanks to such growth trend, the chemistry/medical technology fields’ share among all technologies increased from 25.1% in 2014 to 29.3% in 2018. Looking at share per technology, as medical technology made up 21.1% (4,176 cases), organic fine chemistry 11.5% (2,278 cases), pharmaceuticals 11.1% (2,197 cases) and biotechnology 11.0% (2,178 cases) in order, medical technology had the highest share among the chemistry and medical technology fields.
It can be interpreted that this increase in PCT international applications in the chemistry and medical technology fields was caused by an expansion of foreign market entrances in relation to a convergence of new materials and future health care based on fine chemistry.
Looking at the rate of increase per applicant type in the chemistry and medical technology fields, as small and medium-sized businesses were at 14.5%, universities at 13.3%, large companies at 9.2%, medium enterprises at 9.1% and institutes were at 8.2% in order, the increasing trends for small and medium-sized businesses and universities is particularly noteable.
<Status of applications per applicant type in the chemistry and medical technology fields
for PCT international applications during the most recent 5 years (‘14~’18)>
As the percentages per applicant type are large companies 26.9%, small and medium-sized businesses 26.6%, universities 17.0%, medium enterprises 10.4% and institutes 6.0% in order, in consideration of the share of large companies being 40.3% in the entire technology field*, it is seen that there is no significant inequality in favor of large companies.
* Percent share per applicant type in the entire technology fields: large companies 40.3%, small and medium-sized businesses 24.0%, universities 8.4%, medium enterprises 7.6% and institutes 3.8%
From this, it is seen that due to the feature of the chemical and medical fields of the importance of intellectual property right protection being relatively high, actions to secure global patent rights are being positively taken regardless of applicant type.
Reviewing applicants with multiple applications, for large companies there are LG Chemical, followed by POSCO, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and CJ Corporation in order, the medium enterprises are AMOREPACIFIC CORPORATION and Hanmi Pharm. Co., Ltd. in order, and the small and medium-sized businesses are Duksan Neolux Co., Ltd. and AMOGREENTECH in order.
Also, institutes with multiple applications are Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology and Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine in order, and the Universities are Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University, etc.
The Chief of the Examination 1 Team for International Patent Applications of KIPO stated, “Due to the rapid progress in the convergence of the new materials and future health care fields, PCT international applications in the chemistry and medical technology fields will be continuously increasing.” and “In situations in which advanced materials are a key part of the basis for industrial growth, in order to occupy technical competitive superiority, it is necessary to positively utilize the PCT international application system that is advantageous for securing patent right so as to catch up with technological advances and changes in the global market.”
[Source: KIPO]