[AI Revolution](175) Between Simplifies Complex Patent Searches: "Making Technology Accessible to Everyone"

Artificial intelligence (AI) is breaking through the traditional limitations of patent search. The shift aims to enable ordinary people to explore technical documents-once only understandable to experts-using natural language. Between seeks to transform this opaque patent ecosystem into an open structure.

On November 14, Juyeon Kim, CEO of Between, said in an interview with The Asia Business Daily, "The patent market is vast and full of untapped potential, but in reality, only a handful of companies handle this information. It was disheartening to see that the original purpose of the patent system-to disclose good technologies and promote collective progress-was not functioning properly in the market."

Juyeon Kim, CEO of Between. Between

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With a background as a patent attorney, she has led countless technology transfer projects among universities, research institutes, and companies. She determined that a structure where only a select few who understand the meaning of patents can influence the market is hindering the growth of the technology ecosystem. As AI rapidly advances in understanding context and interpreting language, she became convinced that technology could change the existing structure and founded Between in 2021.

Between's "AIEM Search" is a service that dramatically lowers the entry barrier for patent searches. Traditional patent searches required users to create search queries using complex Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT). Now, users can simply ask, "Find me patents related to topical obesity treatments," and AI will independently infer relevant physical and environmental conditions to construct the search query. Rather than just finding documents that include the words "topical" and "obesity treatment," the system incorporates all semantically related keywords-such as "patch" and "transdermal"-to deliver the most suitable patents.

The AIEM Search service is rapidly spreading, especially among universities and research institutions. Kim said, "Patent searches are structured so that only those with deep understanding of patents can find the information they need, which has kept the general public from accessing patents at all. Even for patent attorneys, the time spent conceptualizing searches in their heads is reduced, allowing them to find patents much more quickly."

She emphasized that the patent market in the AI era must move beyond simple search functions to a stage where the value of technology is assessed. The ultimate goal is to build a platform where anyone can accurately determine the 'value' of a patent. Since technological value fluctuates in real time due to external factors such as regulatory changes, supply chain risks, international disputes, and the emergence of competing technologies, the aim is to make these value shifts visible in real time, much like stock prices.

Kim said, "For example, a single rare earth export regulation can instantly devalue patents related to specific material-based processes, while the emergence of breakthrough technology can revive previously sidelined technologies. Our ultimate goal is to visualize these flows in technological value by reflecting such external variables in real time."

She added, "Going forward, our direction is to enable researchers, companies, and investors to make decisions based on the same data-driven information."

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