On April 1, the Commissioner of the Patent Office announced the discovery and commercialization support program for promising key technologies in 2010, and project assistance through IP consulting and other technical assistance activities.

Eligible for application are public organizations which have fifty or more number of domestic patent applications and registrations within the recent three years in the areas of IT, BT, and NT. In case of professional organizations, three or more people such as project director, patent officer, and advisors are required to participate.

The first step in the process of the project assistance begins with supporting the discovery of a promising technology. This includes a careful screening of the projects?technical value and feasibility and choosing the best one in the fields of IT, BT, and NT. A support fund amounting to 10 million won will be awarded to twenty organizations, and the project period is two months. The selected organizations will be allotted 20% of the support fund in cash, but these conditions may be subject to change.

The second step is the Patent Office's support through strategic consulting in IP strategy, commercialization strategy, and personalized support. Detailed assessment of the promising technology follows.

The completion of the project is consolidated through patent consulting and four strategy packages, namely A, B, C, and D. Package A involves the establishment of IP strategy and patent development; Package B includes the technology transfer, investment, etc.; Package C is IP strategy and business promotion; and Package D provides the valuation and commercialization capabilities of the promising technology. However, the above-mentioned information may be subject to change in accordance with the Patent Office.

The process of the support program is as follows: project recruitment and registration, establishment of support agencies consortium, selection of project organizations, finding promising technology, interim announcement, selection of the project support strategy package, assignment of strategy package assistance, final evaluation, and report of project completion. The application period is from April 8 to 23.

Kim Sung-Min  smduckmail@changwon.ac.kr

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