Patent Office Supports Carbon Neutrality Idea Trading and Commercialization

Incorporating Public Ideas into Corporate Eco-Friendly Projects
Advancing with Eco-Friendly Products through 'Open Product Innovation'
Participating Companies Recruiting on 'Idea-ro' Starting This Month

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) supports the trading and commercialization of ideas in the carbon neutrality sector. This approach helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) innovate eco-friendly products by utilizing ideas from the public.

On the 15th, KIPO announced that it is recruiting companies to participate in the ‘Carbon Neutrality Idea Trading and Commercialization’ support project.

Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

Introduced this year, this project is an open product innovation initiative structured to discover public ideas related to companies’ eco-friendly challenges presented on KIPO’s online trading platform ‘Idea-ro’ and then advance these public ideas into product forms.

The project is divided into two types: the ‘Public Participation Product Innovation Type,’ which supports SMEs’ development of carbon-neutral products using creative ideas proposed by the public, and the ‘Private Demand-Based Type,’ where large and medium-sized enterprises present carbon neutrality challenges that are jointly solved by the public, startups, and SMEs.

The ‘Public Participation Product Innovation Type’ involves discovering and purchasing public ideas related to eco-friendly products that SMEs aim to develop through ‘Idea-ro,’ then supporting idea productization solutions, prototype production and verification, and intellectual property strategy establishment.

Companies wishing to participate can apply online via ‘Idea-ro’ from the 15th of this month to the 15th of next month. Detailed project announcements can be found on the KIPO website and ‘Idea-ro.’

The ‘Private Demand-Based Type’ operates by having large and medium-sized enterprises present carbon neutrality challenges, after which startups and SMEs propose solutions using intellectual property experts, public ideas, and patented technologies, linking to joint product development and supply.

This year, KIPO plans to collaborate with COEX to recruit startups and SMEs to participate in developing eco-friendly booths and products for a carbon emission zero exhibition. Subsequently, COEX will provide an environment where startups and SMEs can verify the technologies and products they develop.

Companies wishing to participate in the ‘Private Demand-Based Type’ will be able to apply through ‘Idea-ro’ starting from the 22nd of this month following a separate announcement.

Mok Seong-ho, Director of the Industrial Property Policy Bureau at KIPO, stated, “To respond to carbon trade barriers and the global low-carbon supply chain, SMEs also need to actively prepare for carbon-neutral product innovation and securing patent strategies. KIPO will spare no effort to support public ideas becoming stepping stones for SMEs to achieve product innovation.”