PH, Korea deepen innovation and IP cooperation

The Philippines and the Republic of Korea have signed a new memorandum of understanding on intellectual property cooperation aimed at helping startups and micro, small and medium enterprises turn ideas into globally competitive products.

The agreement was signed by the Department of Trade and Industry and South Korea’s Ministry of Intellectual Property on the sidelines of the state visit of Republic of Korea President Lee Jae Myung to Manila this week, expanding bilateral cooperation in innovation, technology and knowledge-based industries.

The pact underscores both countries’ push to treat intellectual property, or IP, as a key driver of economic development by supporting startups, strengthening MSMEs and enabling innovation-led industries to grow.

Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque said the partnership gives the Philippines a chance to learn from one of the world’s most advanced IP systems as it works to strengthen its own innovation ecosystem.

“This agreement reflects our commitment to place innovation and intellectual property at the center of economic development. Working closely with Korea allows us to protect Filipino IPs and translate that into competitive industries, high-quality jobs, and long-term growth,” Secretary Roque said.

Under the MOU, the Philippines and South Korea will cooperate on human resource development, IP protection and enforcement, IP commercialization, user outreach, global cooperation and emerging issues such as artificial intelligence and green technologies.

The agreement also is expected to help accelerate the digital transformation of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, or IPOPHL, as South Korea is widely recognized for strengths in IP office automation, AI-assisted patent examination and digital service delivery.

Philippine officials said those areas of cooperation could improve IPOPHL’s operational efficiency, strengthen client services and boost anti-counterfeiting efforts.

The MOU also creates a framework for the two countries to exchange best practices on new IP challenges linked to artificial intelligence, green technologies and the evolving digital economy.

The new deal builds on a 2022 MOU between IPOPHL and the Korean Intellectual Property Office, or KIPO, before South Korea elevated KIPO into the Ministry of Intellectual Property on Oct. 1, 2025.

The broader agreement reflects expanding Philippines-Korea cooperation as both governments move to deepen collaboration in innovation and other high-value sectors.

It also complements the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on Dec. 31, 2024, and is expected to further strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

Roque said stronger IP governance will be important to the Philippines’ long-term competitiveness as the country seeks to reinforce its position in the region.

“Strong intellectual property systems encourage innovation, attract investment, and create new opportunities for entrepreneurs. By deepening cooperation with Korea, we are laying the groundwork for a more dynamic and innovation-driven Philippine economy,” she added.

The partnership comes as South Korea continues to rank among the world’s leading innovation economies in the Global Innovation Index published by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

WIPO’s 2025 index placed the Republic of Korea fourth among 139 economies, its highest ranking to date, highlighting the country’s strength in research, business sophistication and technology-related outputs.

For the Philippines, the latest agreement signals a broader effort to make intellectual property not only a legal protection tool but also a strategic business asset that can help Filipino enterprises scale, commercialize ideas and compete in overseas markets.

The focus on startups and MSMEs is especially significant because smaller firms make up the overwhelming majority of Philippine businesses and are widely seen as critical to employment generation and domestic economic activity.

By linking IP protection more closely with commercialization, the government is seeking to help more Filipino innovators move from concept development and patent registration to market expansion and long-term business growth.

Sources: Department of Trade and Industry press release; Reuters report on President Lee Jae Myung’s March 2026 state visit to the Philippines; World Intellectual Property Organization Global Innovation Index 2025; Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and Tariff Commission records on the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement.