Model of Samsung SDI's all-solid-state battery (Samsung SDI)

By Koh Hyunjeong

The Ministry of Intellectual Property on Oct. 18 said the country ranked second worldwide in the average annual growth of patent applications for all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) and reusable launch vehicles from 2015-24.

Considered a game changer for next-generation batteries, ASSBs replace flammable liquid electrolytes with solid counterparts to reduce the risk of fire and explosion while greatly extending the driving range of electric vehicles.

Korea ranked third in cumulative patent applications for ASSDs with 2,631, behind top-ranked China and runner-up Japan, with average annual growth reaching 29.5%, second only to China's.

By patent filer, Samsung SDI ranked second with 712 applications, followed by LG Energy Solution in third with 525, while Samsung Electronics was fifth with 327 and Hyundai Motor sixth with 284.

The country also saw progress in its development of reusable launch vehicles, which will slash launch costs to lead the era of privately led space exploration.

Korea ranked fourth in cumulative patent applications in this field with 235 after China, the U.S. and France in that order. With annual average growth of 21.3% -- second in the world -- Korea outpaced the U.S., a major space power.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute ranked second worldwide among institutions with 121 applications.

"Patent competitiveness in core technologies such as ASSBs is directly linked to the country's future leadership in industry," said Kim Il-gyu, director general of the ministry's Intellectual Property Policy Bureau. He also pledged timely patent analysis data for researchers.

hjkoh@korea.kr