The Intellectual Property Office announced on the 6th that it is recruiting participants for the “2026 Campus Patent Universiade (CPU)” until the 28th of next month. The CPU is the largest intellectual property competition in Korea, marking its 19th year, where university (graduate) students analyze patent big data to propose commercialization, research and development, and patent strategies for technology problems presented by companies and research institutions.
A total of 24 domestic and foreign companies and research institutions, including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company, SK Hynix, and POSCO Future M (new participant), will take part in the competition. These companies and institutions will present a total of 25 problems focusing on future core technologies such as secondary batteries, artificial intelligence (AI), and next-generation mobility.
The Intellectual Property Office plans to select 108 outstanding works, awarding the Presidential Prize to one team (with a prize of 20 million KRW) and the Prime Minister’s Prize to another team (with a prize of 15 million KRW), among others. Winners will receive follow-up support such as the opportunity to participate in the “Next Generation Intellectual Property Leaders (YIPL)” network and preferential treatment for employment at sponsoring companies. YIPL, a gathering of CPU awardees, provides lectures by top executives, leadership and intellectual property courses, visits to local industries, and job counseling (mentoring).
Registration and assignment verification are available on the competition’s website, and inquiries can be made through the Intellectual Property Human Resources Development Office at the Korea Invention Promotion Association. Kim Il-gyu, Director of Intellectual Property Policy at the Intellectual Property Office, said, “CPU is an educational program that fosters the intellectual property capabilities of participants while providing companies with creative talent and ideas through industry-academia-research-government collaboration. We expect a lot of interest and participation from university (graduate) students and faculty.”