The Philippines and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have deepened their cooperation to help startups and MSMEs turn ideas into globally competitive products through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on intellectual property cooperation between the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Korea’s Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP).
Signed on the sidelines of the State Visit of ROK President Lee Jae Myung, the agreement reinforces both countries’ commitment to elevate intellectual property as a key pillar of economic development—supporting startups, strengthening micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and enabling innovation-led industries to thrive.
DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque said the partnership positions the Philippines to strengthen its innovation ecosystem by learning from one of the world’s most advanced IP systems.
“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.
The MOU establishes cooperation in several areas, including human resource development, intellectual property protection and enforcement, IP commercialization, user outreach, global cooperation, and collaboration on emerging issues such as artificial intelligence and green technologies.
The Republic of Korea has consistently ranked among the world’s top innovators, regularly placing within the top ten of the Global Innovation Index (GII) published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The index evaluates the innovation capabilities of over 130 economies worldwide based on indicators such as research capacity, infrastructure, technology outputs, and creative industries.
Korea is widely recognized for its strong institutional framework supporting innovation—from idea generation and patent registration to commercialization and global market expansion. Through the new cooperation framework, the Philippines aims to strengthen its own intellectual property ecosystem and enable more Filipino enterprises to treat IP as a strategic business asset.
The agreement is also expected to accelerate the digital transformation of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). Korea is internationally known for its leadership in IP office automation, AI-assisted patent examination, and digital service delivery—areas that could help improve IPOPHL’s efficiency, client services, and anti-counterfeiting capabilities.
Beyond institutional strengthening, the MOU will provide a platform for both countries to exchange insights and best practices on emerging IP challenges, including those arising from artificial intelligence, green technologies, and the evolving digital economy.
The MOU is an upgrade from the 2022 MOU between the IPOPHL and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), following KIPO’s elevation to MOIP on 01 October 2025. The partnership also reflects the growing breadth of cooperation between the Philippines and Korea as both countries expand collaboration in innovation, technology, and knowledge-based industries. It also complements the Philippines–Korea Free Trade Agreement (PH-ROK FTA), which entered into force on December 31, 2024, and is expected to deepen economic ties between the two countries.
Since the Philippines assumed the ASEAN Chairship, Secretary Roque emphasized that strengthening intellectual property governance will play a crucial role in supporting the country’s long-term competitiveness.
“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.
