South Korean Universities’ patenting activity analysis: evolution and technological specialization trends

Universities have been playing an increasingly active role in worldwide patenting. South Ko- rea, as a fast technologically developing country, is home to multiple well distinguished universi- ties marking their position in patenting. This study investigates the patenting trends of South Ko- rean universities, analising how these activities align with national industrial strengths and com- paring them with leading universities internationally. Specifically, patent applications filed by South Korean universities at the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) from 2003 to 2021 were examined, focusing on the top 30 universities ranked in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). Analysis of over 27,000 patent applications filed reveals that South Korean universities expe- rienced approximately a 45.5% increase in patent filings, and the International Patent Classifica- tion (IPC) subclass most often given to patent applications was the A61, which belongs to the “Medical or veterinary science; hygiene” class. Followed by Physics (G) and Electricity (H) as dominant fields of patent application classes, fields closely aligned with South Korean’s national industrial priorities. South Korean universities demonstrate a technological advantage over the country’s industry in almost all the fields requested for protection, and results show an increase in proximity between industry and academia technological trends, highlighting a foundation for col- laborative innovation. In a global context, South Korean universities show a rapid growth rate in patenting activities, mirroring that of Chinese institutions, although total patent volumes remain lower than those of United States institutions. A comparative analysis with universities from the United States, China, Japan, and Taiwan, using data from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), highlights similarities and divergences in technological focus across these economies. The findings underscore South Korea’s competitive positioning within the global innovation landscape, sug- gesting potential areas for policy support, industry partnerships, and international collaborations to further strengthen South Korean universities' role in technological advancement.