Considering that South Korea is rapidly approaching a post-aged society, caretaker robots are still at the development stage. (image: Korea Intellectual Property Office)
DAEJEON, May 8 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea is expected to reach a post-aged society by 2025, where more than 20 percent of the population will be over 65 years old, experts are anticipating that caretaker robots will soon be introduced to everyday life, and developers have been scrambling to claim more patents for caretaker robots in recent years.
The Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) said on Tuesday that the average number of patent applications has increased from 37 cases from 2010 to 2012 to 72 cases over the last three years.
Many of the patents are related to technology combined with artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT).
Among patents registered in the last nine years, 38 percent are from universities and research institutes, 27 percent from medium-sized companies, 17 percent from foreign companies, 9 percent from private individuals, and 9 percent from large companies.
Considering that South Korea is rapidly approaching a post-aged society, caretaker robots are still at the development stage, where most of the research and development is being conducted by research institutions and startup companies.
Among them, 40 percent are related to providing everyday life assistance, such as dining and using a wheelchair, while 27 percent are related to blood sugar or blood pressure control, and 10 percent are related to rehabilitation assistance.
“Robot technology will raise the quality of life among senior citizens while creating more jobs,” said Jeon Il-yong, chief of the KIPO’s robotic automation screening division.
“Despite its high potential, the market for caretaker robots is still small, which is why we need to build patent strategies that combine business models and products, and claim intellectual property at an early stage to win high ground in the market.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
