Futureplay Selected as “Excellent Operator” for 2025 CIPO Program

Futureplay announced on December 4 that it has been selected as an “Excellent Operator” (Korea Invention Promotion Association President’s Award) for the 2025 Public-Private Partnership IP (Intellectual Property) Strategy Support Project (CIPO Program).

Lee Wonkyu, Partner at Futureplay (left), and Kim Sihyung, Executive Vice President of the Korea Invention Promotion Association (center), among others, are posing for a commemorative photo as they were selected as excellent operators of the 2025 Public-Private Partnership IP Strategy Support Project. Korea Invention Promotion Association

This year, Futureplay participated in the CIPO Program as an operator specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, serving as the Chief IP Officer (CIPO) for five startups. The company was highly evaluated for its strategic support capabilities that integrate technology, business, and IP. In addition, Jeon Kyungjin, IP Manager at Futureplay, who oversaw the operation of the CIPO Program, was recognized for individual achievement by winning the “ICT Standard Management Award” (Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office Award).

The CIPO Program is a public-private partnership policy operated by the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Korea Invention Promotion Association. Private investment firms serve as the CIPO for startups and provide comprehensive support for IP-centric management.

Hydroexpand, one of last year’s participating companies, continued to strengthen its IP-based technological competitiveness even after the program ended, as evidenced by patent applications, certification as an excellent company for employee inventions, and winning the Encouragement Award in the IP League of “Challenge K-Startup.” This demonstrated the ongoing effectiveness of the program.

This year, as an operator specializing in AI and semiconductors, Futureplay, together with the patent law firm Chawon, provided five companies (Roai, Idea Ocean, TDS Innovation, Robos, and MediIntech) with execution-oriented IP management solutions, including: analysis of technology, market, and competitive environment; global patent and brand strategies; risk mitigation based on prior patents; expansion strategies based on freedom to operate (FTO); and strategies for responding to global expansion.

Hong Seokui, CEO of Roai, who took first place at the CIPO Networking Day Startup Investment Pitch Competition, said, “I have come to clearly understand how technology is transformed into assets in the market,” adding, “Based on our IP portfolio, our potential for follow-up investment and our business negotiation power have been greatly strengthened.” He also stated, “With our overseas expansion strategy and technology expansion risks systematically organized, our foundation for mid- to long-term growth has become much more solid.”

Manager Jeon Kyungjin commented, “IP is a key factor that determines the competitiveness of technology companies, and it is becoming increasingly important to comprehensively analyze each company’s technology, business, and IP situation and establish customized strategies for each stage of the business life cycle. Futureplay will continue to strengthen IP-centric strategic support so that startups can respond flexibly to changes in the market.”