IP office moves to merge invention promotion body, IP research institute

The Korean Intellectual Property Office is pushing to merge the Korea Invention Promotion Association and the Korea Institute of Intellectual Property. The move is part of the Lee Jae Myung administration's plan to reform the functions of public institutions.

The Korean Intellectual Property Office said Friday that combining the two organizations would streamline the execution of intellectual property policy while strengthening research functions and project outcomes.

The Korea Invention Promotion Association has long handled the on-the-ground implementation of intellectual property policy for businesses and local communities. The Korea Institute of Intellectual Property, meanwhile, has carried out policy research and analysis to systematically support policymaking. Because these two functions — policy execution and policy formulation — have been kept separate, this has limited operational efficiency.

Through the merger, the Korean Intellectual Property Office plans to organically link policy execution with policy formulation. It also aims to strengthen its capacity to respond to on-the-ground needs and improve the quality of its policy services.

The Korean Intellectual Property Office said it will work closely with the Korea Invention Promotion Association and the Korea Institute of Intellectual Property going forward. It plans to draw up a roadmap for the merger and carry out the necessary steps, including legal revisions, without delay.