Seoul National University (SNU) has ranked 5th in the world in the 2024 Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) university rankings, recently announced by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

In 2024, SNU filed a total of 170 PCT applications, the highest number among Korean universities. This achievement highlights SNU’s growing global research competitiveness, as it continues to translate its technology-based research outcomes into international intellectual property rights.

The PCT is an international treaty that enables applicants to seek patent protection in multiple countries through a single international patent application. It is widely recognized as a key international framework for globalizing research outcomes. The system is administered by WIPO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, which also oversees international systems for trademarks and industrial designs.

According to WIPO, the world’s top 10 universities include the University of California (1st), Stanford University (7th), MIT (8th), and the National University of Singapore (10th).

Meanwhile, South Korea ranked 4th globally for the fifth consecutive year, with a total of 23,851 applications in 2024, following China, the United States, and Japan. South Korea also recorded a 7.1% year-over-year increase, the highest growth rate among the world’s top five intellectual property powers.

SNU has steadily expanded its patent portfolio through interdisciplinary research and innovative technological development. These efforts serve as a foundation for industry-academia collaboration and technology commercialization. SNU will continue to strategically protect and utilize intellectual property, further establishing itself as a globally leading research university at the forefront of the innovation ecosystem.