Sogang University
Published on 14 January 2026
Sogang University has officially launched the SOGANG IP Lounge, a dedicated patent consultation hub designed to support researchers, staff, and students in protecting intellectual property and advancing research commercialisation. Opened on 30 September, the initiative reflects the university’s strategic effort to build a sustainable research–patent–technology transfer ecosystem amid growing global competition in innovation.
Operated by the Office of Industry–Academic Cooperation, the IP Lounge offers free, professional IP consultations to all members of the Sogang community. Located in the Teilhard Hall (Room 517), the centre is staffed by in-house and partner patent attorneys specialising in patents, trademarks, designs, and copyrights. Consultations are held twice a month and cover the entire IP lifecycle, from early-stage ideas and prior art review to licensing, technology transfer, start-ups, and investment strategies.
The IP Lounge has been designed to address a critical gap faced by researchers and students, particularly those without access to dedicated patent support. Undergraduate students involved in capstone design projects and start-up preparation, as well as faculty members preparing for publication or international patent filings, have actively used the service.
“Once research findings are published, the technology is disclosed. This makes early IP planning essential,” said Park Ye-seul, a patent attorney and alumna of Sogang University who currently oversees the operation of the IP Lounge. “Our goal is to help researchers identify patentable value early and guide them toward effective protection and commercialisation.”
As part of its broader IP capacity-building efforts, Sogang University also hosted a U.S. Patent Seminar in July, inviting a partner attorney from a leading Washington, D.C.-based patent law firm. The seminar addressed key issues such as authorship versus inventorship, U.S. patent strategy, and global monetisation pathways, attracting strong interest from faculty, researchers, and staff. The event highlighted the growing importance of international patent strategies as Sogang’s research output increasingly targets global markets.
By establishing the SOGANG IP Lounge, Sogang University aims to move beyond fragmented support and toward an integrated system that links research excellence, IP protection, and real-world impact. The initiative aligns with the university’s long-term vision to strengthen industry collaboration and ensure that academic innovation translates into social and economic value.
“In today’s era of global technological competition, patents are not optional—they are a core asset,” the university noted. “Through the IP Lounge, Sogang is committed to empowering its researchers and students to transform ideas into protected, impactful innovation.”
