The Korean Intellectual Property Office (hereinafter, KIPO) has released statistical data on the trends of patent applications in Korea related to inventions associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (hereinafter, 4IR), such as artificial intelligence. This data was prepared by the Artificial Intelligence & Big Data Examination Division of KIPO and was last updated on 23 May 2024

 ▒   Fourth Industrial Revolution related Inventions

The KIPO classifies the 4IR related inventions into eight major technology fields: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Health Care, Bio Markers, Intelligent Robots, Autonomous Driving, and 3D Printing.

Patent applications filed in the 8 major technologies fields have continuously increased (7,057 appl. in 2013 → 24,341 appl. in 2022).

Especially, patent applications filed in the AI field have accounted for the largest (36.8%) among the ones filed in the 4IR technologies fields in 2022. The patent applications filed in the AI field sharply increased by 39.6 % on annual average basis (444 appl. in 2013 → 8,960 appl. 2022).

▒  Korean Patent Applications Trend in the Digital Convergence Field

The KIPO considers inventions that combine two of the eight major technology fields related to the 4IR as belonging to the Digital Convergence Field. Specifically, combinations such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) + Digital Health Care, AI + Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT) + Big Data, Digital Health Care + IoT, AI + IoT, AI + Autonomous Driving, Digital Health Care + Intelligent Robot, Digital Health Care + Big Data, AI + Intelligent Robot, Autonomous Driving + Intelligent Robot, and IoT + Autonomous Driving are categorized under the Digital Convergence Field.

Patent applications filed in the digital convergence field increased by twentyfold between 2013 and 2022 (128 appl. in 2013 → 2,294 appl. in 2022).

In particular, the trend of AI technology converging with other technologies has become especially pronounced. Among the 11 convergence technologies, those combined with AI have all shown an average annual growth rate of over 40%. Over the past 10 years, patent applications involving AI convergence have grown by a factor of 41.