South Korean shipbuilders would face turmoil by continued global economic depression, however, rapidly increased patent applications of Big 3 shipbuilders in 2011 is a ray of sunshine for future Korean shipbuilding industry.

According to data by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the nation's patent application (including patent on a new device) in 2011 just remained 183,762, up by 4.3%, while Big3 shipbuilders' patent applications saw a massive increase to 4,315, up by 65% year-on-year.

Those in charge of patent from Hyundai, Samsung and Daewoo analyzed, "Growing patent application shows that Korean major builders are making utmost efforts to obtain dominant position under the strenuous conditions of China's rapid chase and intense technical competitions."

Meanwhile, Hyundai Heavy Industries said that increasing and diversifying reward for invention as well as the management's high interests in technology development and patent application had boosted its patent application in 2011, which skyrocketed by 242% on 2010.

Hyundai applied for a total of 2,048 patents in 2011 from 846 in 2010, while Samsung HI applied for 1,237 from 1,100 and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering 1,030 from 667 in the same time frame. All of Big3 exceeded 1,000 patent applications each last year.

As for applied patents by country, Korea made a big jump from 1,256 in 2008 to 1,848 in 2009. During the same years, China rose from 540 to 758, the US from 1,158 to 1,173, while Japan and Europe slightly decreased from 854 to 808 and from 614 to 552 each, according to KIPO.