AI & IP Mastery: South Korea Launches Global Training for 49 Nations

The International Intellectual Property Training Institute of the Korean Intellectual Property Office announced on the 17th that, in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), it will run the online “2026 Korea–WIPO AI & IP Training Course” from the 18th to the 22nd for 105 policymakers and practitioners in AI and intellectual property (IP) from 49 countries. Launched in 2021 to strengthen IP capacity in developing countries, the program aims to build IP expertise in artificial intelligence, a core driver of future growth. In response to the AI transformation (AX), organizers redesigned the curriculum to emphasize practical skills over purely theoretical or issue-focused instruction. Key modules include AI patent and design examination case studies; debates on AI-related copyright and patent protection; using AI tools for search, analysis, and drafting notices; and practical examples of AI applications to boost administrative efficiency. The course also addresses corporate IP strategies in the AX era by highlighting AI-driven IP creation and protection and profiling how firms incorporate AI into management strategies. Reflecting demand for participatory learning observed in prior WIPO programs, the course will host live online discussions about national AI regulatory trends and policy implementation experiences. Participation is strong from countries with keen interest in AI and IP, including India (18 participants), Kenya (7), and Malaysia (5). Alongside eight examiners from national IP offices and 19 government officials, the cohort includes 16 university professors and 63 private-sector practitioners who will share policy and operational insights on AI & IP. Song Seong-heon, head of the International Intellectual Property Training Institute, said, “As part of proactive administration, this course is significant because we have preemptively converted AI examination skills and the use of administrative AI tools—essential competencies in the AX era—into a formal curriculum to share with the international community. We will continue to actively share Korea’s advanced AI & IP experience through training to help strengthen global intellectual property capacity.”