The purpose of this Act is to contribute to developing the State and communities by prescribing matters necessary to promote and support invention education, thereby enhancing citizens’ knowledge about invention, capability for exploration, and creativity.
The terms used in this Act shall be as follows:
| 2. | The term “invention education” means all forms of education to develop the ability to solve problems creatively and the ability to think; to encourage the desire to invent; and to make invention a way of life; |
| Article 3 (Relationship to Other Act) |
This Act shall apply to promote and support invention education, except as otherwise provided in other Acts.
| Article 4 (Formulation and Execution of Master Plans and Implementation Plans for Invention Education) |
| (1) | To efficiently implement invention education, the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office shall formulate a master plan for invention education (hereinafter referred to as “master plan”) every five years in consultation with the heads of relevant central administrative agencies prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| (2) | The following matters shall be included in the master plan: |
| 1. | Basic objectives of invention education and direction-setting for implementation; |
| 2. | Matters concerning cooperation from respective Ministries, agencies, and organizations with respect to invention education; |
| 3. | Methods for systematically training and supporting professional personnel in invention education; |
| 4. | Researching, developing, and distributing content of invention education; |
| 5. | Facilitating expanding and managing facilities and equipment necessary for invention education; |
| 6. | Other matters prescribed by Presidential Decree, as necessary for invention education. |
| (3) | The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, superintendents of education (hereinafter referred to as “superintendents of education”) of the Special Metropolitan City, Metropolitan Cities, the Special Self-Governing City, Dos, and the Special Self-Governing Province shall formulate and implement an annual implementation plan for invention education (hereinafter referred to as “implementation plan”), taking into account the content of the master plan and the educational conditions and all circumstances of their jurisdictions. |
| (4) | The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office shall consult with the heads of relevant central administrative agencies referred to in paragraph (1) to amend the master plan: Provided, That this shall not apply where amending minor matters prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| (5) | Upon formulating or amending the master plan pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (4), the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office shall notify the heads of relevant central administrative agencies and superintendents of education of the formulated or amend master plan. |
| (6) | Other matters necessary to formulate and implement master plans and implementation plans shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 5 (Cooperation in Formulation, etc. of Plans) |
The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office and superintendents of education may request cooperation from the heads of relevant central administrative agencies, the heads of local governments, and the superintendents of education, if necessary to formulate, implement, and evaluate master plans and implementation plans.
| Article 6 (Establishment and Operation of Information System) |
| (1) | The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may establish and operate an information system about invention education to efficiently communicate information, data, etc. about invention education to citizens and to efficiently formulate and implement policies necessary to promote invention education. |
| (2) | The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may request necessary data and information from the heads of relevant central administrative agencies, the heads of local governments, the superintendents of education, and the heads of relevant institutions and organizations, if necessary to establish and operate the information system referred to in paragraph (1). In such cases, the heads of institutions and organizations so requested shall comply with such request except in extenuating circumstances. |
| (3) | The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office shall endeavor to provide citizens with information about invention education referred to in paragraph (1) in accordance with the Official Information Disclosure Act. |
| Article 7 (Promotion of Students’ Invention Activities) |
| 1. | Support to establish and operate schools specializing in invention education, and educational institutions and research institutes for invention education; |
| 2. | Support to research, develop, and distribute the curricula and content of invention education; |
| 3. | Support to find and train students with outstanding talent in invention; |
| 4. | Support to expand and manage facilities and equipment necessary for invention education; |
| 5. | Support for activities and events for invention education, such as club activities, exhibitions, and presentations related to invention education; |
| 6. | Other matters necessary to promote invention education. |
| (2) | The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may request the Minister of Education to include invention education in the curricula of kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 8 (Support for Invention Education for Educationally Underprivileged Groups) |
| 1. | Dispatching instructors in invention education; |
| 2. | Developing and distributing invention education programs; |
| 3. | Holding and administering events related to invention education; |
| 4. | Other projects for supporting invention education for educationally underprivileged children and juveniles. |
| Article 9 (Provision, etc. of Opportunities to Undergo Training for Teachers) |
| (1) | The State and local governments may provide teachers with opportunities to undergo training and refresher training to gain expertise in invention education and to train teachers specializing in invention education. |
| (2) | The State and local governments may support research and various activities conducted by teachers in relation to invention education. |
| Article 10 (Establishment and Operation of Invention Education Centers) |
| (2) | The State and local governments may subsidize expenses incurred in establishing and operating invention education centers. |
| (3) | Other matters necessary to establish and operate invention education centers and to administer guidance teachers shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 11 (Designation, Operation, etc. of Invention Education Development Institutes) |
| (1) | The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may designate a specialized institution equipped with capabilities, such as professional personnel, facilities, and equipment, as an invention education development institute, as prescribed by Presidential Decree, to efficiently research, develop, and support invention education, including support to operate invention education centers referred to in Article 10. |
| (2) | The functions of invention education development institutes are as follows: |
| 1. | To research, develop, and distribute the curricula and content of invention education and invention education programs; |
| 2. | To research, study, and analyze theories and policies about invention education; |
| 3. | To train professional personnel, such as teachers in charge of invention education; |
| 4. | Other functions necessary to research, develop, and support invention education. |
| (3) | Where the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office deems that an invention education development institute has been designated by fraud or other improper means; or is unable to achieve the objectives of designation, the Commissioner may cancel the designation of such invention education development institute, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. In such cases, the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office shall give the head of such invention education development institute an opportunity to state his/her opinion. |
| Article 12 (Support to Train Professional Personnel in Industrial Property Rights) |
| (1) | The State and local governments may render support to any schools, as deemed necessary, among schools of various levels, to include content concerning industrial property rights in their curricular; and to establish departments; and to provide courses related to industrial property rights. |
| (2) | The State and local governments may advise the founders and managers of schools referred to in Article 2 of the Higher Education Act, including universities and colleges, to establish and operate research institutes related to industrial property rights. |
| Article 13 (Support to Educate Small and Medium Enterprises in Industrial Property Rights) |
| 1. | Developing and operating curricula in industrial property rights for small and medium enterprises; |
| 2. | Developing and distributing educational materials about industrial property rights for small and medium enterprises; |
| 3. | Consulting to conduct education on industrial property rights, which is customized for each enterprise, and dispatching instructors; |
| 4. | Other projects to support the education of small and medium enterprises in industrial property rights. |
| Article 14 (International Exchanges and Cooperation) |
The State and local governments may conduct the following projects in cooperation with foreign governments, international organizations, or foreign educational institutions to improve invention education and to enhance effectiveness thereof:
| 1. | Exchanging information about invention education; |
| 2. | Jointly researching and studying invention education; |
| 3. | Jointly developing curricula and educational materials for invention education; |
4 Other projects deemed necessary to promote international exchanges and cooperation about invention education.
| Article 15 (Delegation and Entrustment of Authority) |
| (1) | The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may delegate part of his/her authority bestowed under this Act to the heads of local governments, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| (2) | The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office may entrust part of his/her duties prescribed under this Act to the Korea Invention Promotion Association established pursuant to Article 52 of the Invention Promotion Act. |
ADDENDA
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
Article 2 (Transitional Measure concerning Invention Education Center)
Invention Education Centers established pursuant to Article 9 of the former Invention Promotion Act as at the time this Act enters into force shall be deemed to be established pursuant to this Act. Article 3 Omitted.