Patent wait cut from 20 months to 1 month for AI, biotech startups

South Korea will expand its ultra-fast patent examination system — which cuts the waiting period to under one month — starting in November.

The Korean Intellectual Property Office said Tuesday it plans to extend the ultra-fast examination system to youth-founded startups (founders aged 39 or under), AI data center companies and physical AI firms, on top of the sectors already covered.

The office first introduced the ultra-fast examination system in October last year to strengthen national competitiveness, then expanded it in February to cover AI and biotech startups and venture companies. The system has reduced the average examination wait from nearly 20 months under the standard review process to an average of 1.0 month.

Expansion to youth startups, AI data centers and physical AI

The office plans to broaden eligibility beyond specific technology sectors to cover youth-founded startups across all industries, so that young entrepreneurs in fields beyond AI and biotech can also receive faster examination results. Support for nationally critical technologies will also be strengthened: AI data center and physical AI technologies will be newly added to the priority and ultra-fast examination tracks alongside the existing semiconductor category, with the aim of securing key future-industry technologies more quickly. To avoid delays in the standard examination queue, annual support will be capped at about 4,000 cases, with detailed eligibility criteria and application requirements to be announced in November.

Small and medium-sized enterprises account for 6 in 10 ultra-fast applicants

A total of 1,284 applications were filed under the ultra-fast examination system from October last year through June 8. Small and medium-sized enterprises accounted for the largest share at 60 percent (774 cases), followed by large companies at 20 percent (260 cases) and individuals at 14.7 percent (189 cases).

AI and biotech startups see wait slashed from 20 months to 1 month

AI and biotech are among the fields with the longest average patent examination waits. While the overall average across all technology sectors stands at 14.7 months, the wait for AI and biotech reaches 20 months. Since the system's introduction, a physical AI startup identified as Company A received its first examination result in 17 days, and an AI medical venture identified as Company B received its result in 27 days — both within a single month. Companies expect to confirm patent viability early and map out commercialization strategies more quickly.

"For startups, a patent is more than just a right — it is a critical asset for attracting investment, entering markets and growing the business," said Jeong Yeon-woo, deputy commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office. "The ultra-fast examination system for AI and biotech startups has delivered a dramatic reduction in examination times."

Jeong added that the office would "actively expand support to youth startups and nationally critical technologies, so that innovative ideas can be quickly protected as rights and brought to market."