On the 8th, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) announced that it will accept applications from the 19th to the 27th for the recruitment of specialized term-limited patent examiners (equivalent to Grade 5) in the fields of bio, advanced robotics, and artificial intelligence.
The number of recruits is 35 for bio, 16 for advanced robotics, and 9 for artificial intelligence, totaling 60. These fields are considered national strategic technologies where fierce efforts are underway among major countries to secure core technologies.
Over the past five years (from 2019 to 2023), while the total number of patent applications increased by an average of 2.3% annually, the average patent application growth rate in the three fields including bio recorded 8.4%, indicating intense competition among companies to secure core patents.
Accordingly, KIPO plans to hire specialized term-limited patent examiners to support rapid and accurate patent examinations so that domestic companies can secure technological competitiveness. KIPO has already hired specialized term-limited patent examiners in the semiconductor field in March last year and January this year, and in the secondary battery field in June and August this year, supporting domestic companies in securing patents quickly.
To recruit specialized term-limited patent examiners, KIPO began consultations with related ministries in the first half of this year, completed personnel increases and budget negotiations last month, and is proceeding with recruitment this month.
The detailed recruitment fields are divided into 10 categories: ▲bio-based technology ▲bio diagnostic and analysis technology ▲bio pharmaceutical technology ▲healthcare medical device technology ▲healthcare data analysis technology ▲robot mechanical design technology ▲interface technology ▲robot control technology ▲machine learning technology ▲cognitive processing technology.
Applicants must have degrees and experience related to the intended job field, and preference is given to those with work experience in the relevant job field.
KIPO will select the final successful candidates through document screening and interviews after this month’s application period and plans to appoint them in January next year.
The purpose of hiring specialized term-limited patent examiners is to recruit highly experienced private-sector experts with technical expertise and field experience as patent examiners, significantly shortening the patent examination period and supporting domestic companies in securing rights quickly.
Another expected effect of hiring specialized term-limited patent examiners is to prevent the leakage of core technologies overseas during the process of domestic experts moving abroad.
Specialized term-limited patent examiners are national public officials equivalent to Grade 5 (Class B) with technical expertise. Unlike general public officials, they have no retirement age, and their private-sector experience is recognized, resulting in higher pay than newly hired general Grade 5 public officials.
Once hired as a specialized term-limited patent examiner, the initial contract can be extended up to 10 years depending on staffing and budget conditions without age restrictions, and after the term expires (10 years), they can reapply for term-limited public official recruitment exams.
Kim Wanki, Commissioner of KIPO, said, “This recruitment is expected to accelerate patent examinations in the fields of bio, advanced robotics, and artificial intelligence, contributing to domestic companies’ acquisition of patent rights and securing global competitiveness. We hope that many excellent technical talents who want to find fulfillment in public service will show interest and apply.”
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