AIPPI and KINPA Presidents Meet at AIPPI World Congress to Review 2023 Achievements and Discuss Expanded Collaboration for 2024

On October 21 in Hangzhou, China, leaders from the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI, Former President Shoichi Okuyama), AIPPI Korea (President Seongtak Ahn), and the Korea Intellectual Property Association (KINPA, President Beomsu Ye) gathered at the AIPPI World Congress. The meeting provided an opportunity to review the outcomes of this year’s collaborations and to discuss strategies for expanded cooperation in the coming year. This meeting marked a significant step in strengthening collaboration between the two organizations in international IP initiatives.

Among the key achievements of this year’s partnership was mutual promotion of each organization’s major events. Representatives from AIPPI attended the KINPA Conference in Seoul on October 16-17, and a KINPA delegation participated in the AIPPI Congress in Hangzhou from October 19-22. Notably, this year’s KINPA Conference drew approximately 1,200 participants, solidifying its status as Korea’s largest intellectual property event.

During the Hangzhou meeting, both parties discussed plans for continued cross-promotion and reciprocal delegation invitations for 2024. They also explored specific avenues for KINPA members to participate as panelists or speakers at the AIPPI Trilateral Meeting among China, Japan, and Korea in Gyeongju, scheduled for June 2025, and at the AIPPI World Congress in Yokohama, Japan, in September 2025. These initiatives aim to empower Korean corporate IP professionals to expand their presence on the global stage and to enhance their influence on international IP policies.

Founded in 2008 with 67 members and now boasting over 260, KINPA is Korea’s largest IP industry association. KINPA promotes knowledge-sharing among its members and strengthens their ability to respond to international patent disputes through various activities. The association hosts the KINPA Conference annually, with increasing scale each year, and this expanded collaboration is expected to be a pivotal step toward globalizing Korea’s IP industry.

Looking ahead, the partnership between KINPA and AIPPI is set to expand even further. This year marked the first step in collaboration, with both organizations promoting each other’s major annual events and attending in person. Next year, KINPA and AIPPI will continue to strengthen their engagement through mutual participation in events, including the AIPPI Trilateral Meeting in Gyeongju, the AIPPI World Congress in Yokohama, and the KINPA Conference. This collaboration will provide Korean IP professionals with a broader international perspective and strengthen Korea’s voice in the global IP field.