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Request for Proposals
for Partnership with EU.-based Intellectual Property Law Firms
Request for Proposals
for Partnership with EU.-based Intellectual Property Law Firms
The Institute for Basic Science (IBS), the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), the
Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
(KIGAM), the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), the Korea
Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
(KRICT), the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), the Korea Institute of
Industrial Technology (KITECH), the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), and
theKorea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) (hereinafter, collectively “Institutes”), which are non-
profit research institutes funded by the government of the Republic of Korea, jointly invite proposals
from EU.-based intellectual property law firms to create high-quality patents based on research
outcomes and to cooperate on matters involving technology transfers and commercialization in EU.
I. Goals & Expected Outcomes
1. Create high-quality EU. patents
○ Create high-quality EU. patents through the establishment of a cooperative system with EU.-based
patent law firms that have expert knowledge on EU. patent laws and systems, and demonstrate
a high level of understanding of research fields covered by “Institutes”
○ Enhance efficiency of EU. patent management by establishing a cooperative system with highly
experienced EU. patent law experts
○ Handle or provide advice for matters concerning EU. patent applications, office actions,
trials/litigation, etc.
2. Promote exploitation of EU. IP
○ Provide advice related to technology commercialization, including utilization of overseas patents
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owned by “Institutes,” and profit creation
○ Participate in work cooperation, including marketing for overseas patents owned by “Institutes,”
and collection of evidence of patent infringement
○ Provide mediation or consulting services on technology licensing agreements in EU.
3. Establish a cooperative system between EU. intellectual property law firm and local patent
firms
○ Make separate agreements with domestic patent firms according to fees negotiated with
“Institutes” in the selection process
○ Enhance continuity of patent management by focusing efforts on EU. patent management
It may not be possible to entrust work to selected firms depending on circumstances such as
※
existing patent applications, joint applications with other institutes, conflicts of interest,
and other needs of “Institutes”
II. Overview of call for proposals
1. Eligible fields and requirements
○ Quota: 3
Fewer than 3 firms may be selected if candidates are deemed unsuitable
※
○ Specialty fields
- Field 1: Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, etc
- Field 2: Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, etc
- Field 3: Mechanical Engineering, Components, Metals, Aerospace, etc
- Field 4: Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Semiconductors, Telecommunications, AI, Robotics,
etc
- Field 5: Energy, Resources, Environment, Physics (Accelerators), Nuclear Engineering, etc
Multiple applications to areas of expertise are allowed
※
Proposals are accepted for fields not mentioned above with details on the specific field
※
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○ Requirements
- At least three years since establishment as a law firm specializing in patents
- Five or more patent attorneys whose expertise is in the field of the submitted proposal
(Total number of patent attorneys in the case of multiple applications to areas of expertise)
- Other preferred qualities: patent attorney who has ability to communicate in Korean
Persons capable of communicating in Korean shall serve as points of contact
※
2. Selection process
○ Firms selected through two rounds of evaluation, comprised of document screening and
presentation
Round 1:
Document
screening
(100 points)
→
Round 2:
Presentation
(80 points)
+
Price assessment
(20 points)
→
Selection of
firms for
negotiation
→ Negotiation →
Contract
signing
- Two times the quota selected based on first round of evaluation for the second round
(presentation*)
* Candidates may give their presentation by videoconferencing, and speak in either Korean or
English. 10 minutes for the presentation, and 10 minutes for Q&A.
If fewer than or equal to twice the required number of applicant organizations apply, the
※
call will not be reissued and Round 1 evaluation will be waived.
- Qualified Negotiators selected through a comprehensive evaluation of presentation scores and
price assessment scores
- Contract signed after negotiating fees with qualified negotiators on a top-down basis
- When assessed by a panel of 6 or more members, a candidate’s average score will be calculated
after dropping the highest and lowest scores
- Average score rounded to three decimal places
- Tie-breaking criteria for comprehensive evaluation
① Candidates with higher scores in first round of evaluation
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② Candidates with higher scores in categories allotted more weight in second round of
evaluation
○ Evaluation criteria
• Document screening (round 1): 100 points
- Number of expert personnel (10 points): Total number of patent attorneys
- Work achievements in the past three years (10 points): Total number of EU. patents
applications by Korean clients in the past three years
- Patent quality management (40 points): IP application process management plan and standards,
securing of computation system, measures against workplace negligence, security
management, etc.
- Capacities of persons-in-charge (40 points): Scope of work and managing standards of patent
attorneys, continuous years of service of personnel, work experience with relevant
professional technologies, feasibility of proposal, etc.
• Presentation (round 2): 80 points
- Service quality and management (30 points): Efforts to enhance quality of specifications
and other services, establishment of quality criteria for self-assessment, case management
and scheduling capacity, etc.
- Job competencies and professionalism (30 points): Professional competence of attorneys,
match with majors of participating personnel, work experience and case handling experience,
etc.
- Distinctiveness of service (20 points): Work experience for Korean government-funded
Institutes, understanding of government-funded work, assignment of outstanding personnel,
distinguishing strategies, etc.
• Price assessment (round 2): 20 points
- Submission of bid prices for each item in Proposed Service Fee Schedules
- Price assessment will be based on the weighted total bid prices for each item
Candidate firms that have passed the first and second rounds will be individually notified
※
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3. Method and period of cooperation
○ Work cooperation agreement to be signed between “Institutes” and representatives of selected EU.
patent firms
- Period of cooperation: Jan. 1, 2027 – Dec. 31, 2029 (3 years)
- Fees for patent application, response to office actions, registrations, and trial-related affairs to be
determined based on minimum amount proposed by selected firms with reference to proposed
service fee schedules; these shall have legal binding force in the work cooperation agreement
○ Separate agreement on handling of intellectual property cases to be signed with multiple Korean
patent firms designated by “Institutes”
4. Estimated number of entrusted cases:
80 cases of patent application / 1 year
The above estimate is based on the Institutes’ average number of EU. patents in the past three
※
years (2023–2025), and may vary from the actual number of entrusted cases
III. Timeline (Korean Standard Time)
○ Call for proposals: June. 1 (Mon), 2026 – July. 10 (Fri), 2026
○ Round 1 of evaluation: July. 23 (Thu), 2026
○ Round 2 of evaluation: 15:00 on September. 1 (Tue), 2026
○ Announcement of successful firms for negotiations: September. 15 (Tue), 2026
○ Contract signing: 12. 30 (Thu), 2026
The above dates are subject to change depending on circumstances of Institutes
※
IV. Other matters to note
○ Deadline: No later than 18:00 on July. 10 (Fri), 2026 (Korean Standard Time)
○ How to submit: By e-mail (selected firms may be asked to submit original documents by mail)
○ Office: ipr@ibs.re.kr Jungki Yeo (+82-42-878-8199)
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○ Required documents:
① Proposal
- Use the provided form (submit Korean original and English translation)
- Korean version: Write no more than 30 A4 pages, and submit as a PDF file
- English version: Translate the Korean version, and submit as a PDF file
② Price table
- Submit as a file separate from the proposal
③ Supporting documents (for firms selected for the second round)
- One copy of proof of work achievements
- One copy of document certifying status as patent law firm
- Documents certifying status as patent attorney and proof of employment (for persons-in-
charge only)
- Financial statements for the past three years or equivalent documents
- Other supporting documents (example: ranking of firms, letter of recommendation by
Korean clients, etc.)
○ Request for additional materials
- “Institutes” may ask law firms to submit additional proposals or supporting materials,
and such materials shall have the same effect as proposals
○ Notes for Proposal Submission
- On-time submission is mandatory.
- Submitted documents will not be returned and proposing firms shall bear all proposal-
related costs.
- Any falsified information or document may be the basis for disqualifying the proposing
firm and may be the basis for terminating a work cooperation agreement and/or an
agreement if revealed after execution thereof. The firm shall bear consequences caused by
or resulting from the falsified information or document.
- Proposing firms shall bear consequences incurred by errors or omissions in their
proposals or attached documentation.
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- The Institutes own all the outcomes and outputs produced during the partnership and all
information obtained in relation to the partnership is strictly confidential.
- Proposals should follow the given format, but the format may be amended if necessary.
Both Korean and English shall be used for call for proposals, proposals, and work
※
cooperation agreements, but where a difference in interpretation arises, the Korean original shall
take precedence over the English translation.
. Attachment
Ⅴ
1. Evaluation items and criteria
2. Proposal (form)
3. Proposed Service Fee Schedules
4. Consent Form for Collection and Use of personal Information. End.
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◎ Attachment 1: Evaluation items and criteria for first and second rounds
○ First-round Document Evaluation (Quantitative 20 points + qualitative 80 points)
Criteria
(Quantitative)
Proposed by
Grade
Points
Very good
Good
Average
Poor
Very poor
Number of
expert
personnel
(10 points)
Firm A
✓
6
Firm B
✓
7
Firm C
✓
8
Firm D
✓
9
Firm E
✓
10
Work
achievements in
past three years
(10 points)
Firm A
✓
6
Firm B
✓
7
Firm C
✓
8
Firm D
✓
9
Firm E
✓
10
○ Number of expert personnel: Total number of patent attorneys
Classification
≥ 30 persons
15 – 30
persons
10 – 15
persons
5 – 10
persons
< 5 persons
Points
10
9
8
7
6
○ Work achievements: Total number of EU. patent applications (EPO only) by Korean clients in past three
years
Classification
≥ 150 cases
100 – 149
cases
80 – 99 cases
50 – 79 cases
< 50 cases
Points
10
9
8
7
6
Criteria
(Qualitative)
Proposed by
Grade
Points
Very good
Good
Average
Poor
Very poor
Patent quality
management
(40 points)
Firm A
✓
24
Firm B
✓
28
Firm C
✓
32
Firm D
✓
36
Firm E
✓
40
Capacities of
persons-in-
charge
(40 points)
Firm A
✓
24
Firm B
✓
28
Firm C
✓
32
9
Firm D
✓
36
Firm E
✓
40
○ Second-round Presentation Evaluation (Presentation 80 points + Price 20 points)
Criteria
Proposed by
Grade
Points
Very good
good
Average
Poor
Very poor
Service quality
and
management
(30 points)
Firm A
✓
18
Firm B
✓
21
Firm C
✓
24
Firm D
✓
27
Firm E
✓
30
Job
competencies
and
professionalism
(30 points)
Firm A
✓
18
Firm B
✓
21
Firm C
✓
24
Firm D
✓
27
Firm E
✓
30
Distinctiveness
of services
(20 points)
Firm A
✓
12
Firm B
✓
14
Firm C
✓
16
Firm D
✓
18
Firm E
✓
20
○ Price assessment
Criteria
Proposed by
Grade
Points
Price
assessment
(20 points)
- Submission of bid prices for each item in Proposed
Service Fee Schedules
- Price assessment will be based on the weighted total bid
prices for each item
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[Calculation Formulas for Bid Price Score]
A. For bidders whose bid price is 80% or more of the
estimated price
*Lowest Bid Price: The lowest price among valid bidders. However,
if the bid price is less than 70% of the estimated price, it shall be
calculated as 70%.
*Proposed Bid Price: The bid price of the specific bidder being
evaluated.
B. For bidders whose bid price is less than 80% of the
estimated price
*Lowest Bid Price: The lowest price among valid bidders. If the bid
price is less than 70% of the estimated price, it shall be calculated as
70%.
*Proposed Bid Price: The price proposed by the bidder. However, if
the bid price is less than 70% of the estimated price, a score
equivalent to 30% of the maximum allocation shall be awarded.
C. If the calculation results in decimal points, it shall be
rounded to the fifth decimal place.
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◎ Attachment 2: Proposal form
<Number (including this page) and format>
- Korean version: Write no more than 30 A4 pages, and submit as a PDF file
- English version: Translate the Korean version, and submit as a PDF file
Proposal
For cooperation with EU. patent law firm
Name of the Firm
Specialty Field
You may write more than one field of specialty
※
Name of the Firm
Business registration number
(Corporate registration number)
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Representative
Address
Telephone/fax
Representative email
Establishment year
Total number of
employees
Total number of patent
attorneys
{Firm’s name} gives assurances that the submission of this proposal does not involve any unfair
acts stipulated in Article 76 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Contracts to which the State
is a Party, and Article 19 of the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act. Henceforth, any
punishment will be accepted as decreed by those acts and subordinate statutes if this document
turns out to contain any falsified information. {Firm’s name} promises to comply with the terms
of integrity agreements in the course of evaluation for selection and conclusion & execution of a
work cooperation agreement, and to accept disadvantages such as the cancellation of selection in
partnership with the Institutes which may ensue from a breach, and not raise civil and criminal
appeals in this context.
{Firm’s name} submits the following proposal and attachments with the intention of
participating in the selection process of law firms representing the Institutes for IP matters,
pledging to make a work cooperation agreement on corresponding terms in order to serve as
such once the submitted fee schedule is accepted.
2026. 0. 0.
Name of the Firm:
Applicant (Representative): (signature)
Dear Presidents of
The Institute for Basic Science (IBS), the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), the Korea
Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), the
Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), the Korea Atomic Energy Research
Institute (KAERI), the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute
of Science and Technology (DGIST), the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), the Korea
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Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), and theKorea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)
I. Summary (delete all text in blue before submission)
1. General status
A. History
Year
Details
Representative patent
attorney
B. Personnel (specify total number of employees)
Classification
2023
2024
2025
Note
Patent attorney
Patent engineer
Managing staff
Other employees
C. Organization
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2. Expert personnel status (persons-in-charge only; not the total member)
A. Status
○ EU. patent attorney (00 persons) (provide details for patent attorneys assigned to Institutes)
Specialty Subspecialty Name Position
Experience
(Year/
Month)
Length of
service
(Year/
Month)
Year of
qualification
as patent
attorney
Major and highest degree
Korean
language
proficienc
y
Univ.
Year of
graduation
Major
Highest
degree
Metal
Steel
Kim OO
Partner
10/3
Yonsei
1996
Mechanical
engineering
doctorate
Counsel
Metal
Physics
Associate
Pharmaceut
ical science
doctorate
Average
5/3
3/7
○ Managing staff (00 persons) (provide details for staff assigned to Institutes)
Specialty Subspecialty Name Position
Experience
(Year/
Month)
Length of
service
(Year/
Month)
Year of
qualification
as patent
agent (or
staff
member)
Major and highest degree
Korean
language
proficiency
Univ.
Year of
graduation
Major
Highest
degree
Metal
Steel
Kim OO
Partner
10/3
Yonsei
1996
Mechanical
engineerin
g
doctorate
Metal
Physics
Associate
Pharmaceu
tical
science
doctorate
Average
5/3
3/7
B. Career Records of Members of the Team
※ Please complete the form below for only those who are to work for the Institutes as a member of the Team.
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※ Please describe their work experiences such as handling office actions, appeals/trials, and litigation in detail.
※ Please do not describe external activities such as acting as an advisory member and/or board member of a
professional organization(s).
※ For “position,” please state the position at the law firm.
Name
Division
Position (job title)
Education
(undergraduate
and graduate
schools)
Graduation year
Name of school
Major
Degree
YY/MM ~ YY/MM
Experience
__ months
Specialty
(Specify your subspecialty)
e.g., the chemical field -> organic chemistry
(Description of subspecialty is needed where possible)
Details of
duties
e.g., Filing
application,
handling
trials/appeals
and litigation
Major
performance
(Detailed description is required)
e.g., Technological discoveries (advice, consultation) related to stem cells and IP
application
(Specify major applicants) - In case of confidential ones, describe them with their
identity anonymous like “
X Electronics”
- Detailed description of distinctive performance is required
Other
performance
and experiences
II. Achievements as patent law firm
A. Total patent applications/registrations (EPO only) in past three years
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Provide number for all patent applications and registrations regardless of field, and specify number of applications and
※
registrations for Korean applicants
Details
Year
Application (cases)
Registration (cases)
Total
Korean applicant
Total
Korean applicant
2023
2024
2025
Write number of cases of applications and registrations for each year
※
B. Patent applications/registrations (EPO only) in specialty field by patent law firm in past three
years
- Field: ooo
Details
Year
Application (cases)
Registration (cases)
Total
Korean applicant
Total
Korean applicant
2023
2024
2025
Provide separate tables on patent applications/registrations for each field if the proposal is for more than one
※
specialty field
C. Patent applications/registrations (EPO only) of eleven research institutes in past three years (write
only if applicable)
Details
Year
Application (cases)
Registration (cases)
2023
2024
2025
D. Patent litigation outcomes
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Provide details on all litigations regardless of field (invalidated trial, infringement, etc.)
※
Write win rate for cases for which a court judgment has been made in each year
Details
Year
Total number of
cases
Win rate
Korean client
cases
Win rate
2023
2024
2025
E. Other work achievements
Year
Details
F. Major clients (Top 5 based on number of patent applications in 2025)
No.
Major client
Nationality
1
2
3
4
5
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. Future directions and special suggestions
Ⅲ
1. Service quality and management
2. Job competencies and professionalism
3. Distinctiveness of services
4. Other matters ( Write freely)
※
(e.g.)
- IP application management guidelines and their quality control protocol
- IT system
- Measures for preventing and controlling negligence
- Confidentiality and security management protocols
- Unique plan in working with Domestic Agents representing the Institutes for IP Matters
- Previous experiences with similar clients
- Unique strategy for the Institutes in responding to EPO actions
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◎ Attachment 3: Price table (draft)
Submit as a separate file
※
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◎ Attachment 4: Consent Form for Collection and Use of personal Information
Submit as a separate file
※