三星电子发动“钞”能力：大幅上调员工专利奖励标准

Core Insights - Samsung Electronics has significantly raised its employee patent reward standards, with the maximum reward now reaching three times the original standard, aimed at boosting employee morale and accelerating new technology development in key business areas [1][3] Summary by Sections Patent Reward Adjustments - The company has increased the patent application reward under the "invention incentive fund" to a maximum of double the previous amount, with A1 level rewards rising from 1 million KRW to 1.5 million KRW (approximately 7,353 RMB) and A2 level rewards from 500,000 KRW to 1 million KRW (approximately 4,902 RMB) [3] - This adjustment will be in effect for two years, until September 2027, and is considered unprecedented in both the company and the industry [3] - Prior to this, the highest patent reward was only 500,000 KRW, which had not seen significant changes since 2017 [3] Innovation and Competitive Pressure - The increase in rewards reflects Samsung's urgent need to rebuild its technological competitiveness, as it faces severe challenges to its previously dominant positions in semiconductors, smartphones, and home appliances [3][4] - The company has seen a rising trend in patent registrations, with over 20,000 patents registered in 2023, and 9,599 patents registered in the first half of 2024 alone [4] Market Context - In the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) sector, which is critical for AI, Samsung has lost its leading position to SK Hynix, while its gap with TSMC in the foundry market continues to widen [4] - The smartphone business appears stable, but this is largely due to the use of Qualcomm's high-end application processors, which have taken over the market position previously held by Samsung [4] - In the global semiconductor patent landscape, total patent applications reached 80,892 from April 2023 to March 2024, marking a 22% year-on-year increase, with China accounting for 46,591 applications, a 44% increase [5]