The Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Korea Women Inventors Association announced Monday that they are recruiting women inventors and entrepreneurs to participate in the "2026 Women Inventors Queen Expo" to be held in July this year.
This year's event will take place from July 16 to 18 at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The expo is expected to offer participating companies a valuable opportunity to meet diverse consumer groups and distribution officials in person, gauge market response and explore new sales channels.
The 2026 Women Inventors Queen Expo is an integrated invention festival combining the 19th World Women's Invention Competition and the 26th Women's Invention Exhibition. It will showcase innovative products from outstanding women inventors around the world in one venue. The World Women's Invention Competition evaluates and awards patented technologies and products from women inventors both domestically and internationally. This year, the competition will offer both in-person and online participation for the convenience of participants. Awards will include main prizes such as the Grand Prix and Semi-Grand Prix, along with prestigious special awards including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General Award, the Minister of Science and ICT Award and the Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office Award.
The Women's Invention Exhibition displays and promotes outstanding inventions by Korean women inventors and entrepreneurs to support their market development. A range of programs will also be provided to help participating companies achieve practical growth. These include live broadcast sales in collaboration with influencers, one-on-one distribution consultation sessions with approximately 40 merchandising managers from major retail networks, and media publicity support such as promotional video production and press coverage to boost brand awareness.
Applications are open to companies where a woman who has filed or registered industrial property rights — patents, utility models or designs — serves as a representative or executive. The application period runs from April 6 to May 18. Applications can be submitted through the Women Inventors Queen Expo website.
