A promotional slide for Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Regional Innovation System & Education program / Courtesy of Kookmin University
Kookmin University said the school has been selected for the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE) program, securing 2.6 billion won ($1.8 million) in funding over four years.
Receiving 650 million won annually for four years from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, a Kookmin University official said it will support the commercialization of university research outcomes and technology transfer linked to Seoul’s five key strategic industries: artificial intelligence, bio-health, fintech, robotics and creative industries.
To address structural barriers that have limited the transfer of university technologies to industry use, Kookmin University plans to establish sector-specific councils involving companies, researchers and industry practitioners. It also aims to build a standing cooperation pipeline between the university and businesses.
The official added it will also focus on advancing demand-driven university research along with a business development system by identifying technical challenges and new business opportunities among Seoul-based startups and small and medium-sized enterprises, matching them with promising technologies held by the university.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the university was highly evaluated for its startup support capabilities.
In last year’s JoongAng Ilbo University Rankings, Kookmin University ranked second in industry-academic cooperation revenue per science and engineering faculty member” third in technology transfer income per science and engineering faculty member, first in sales per startup company and seventh in startup support funding.
The university was also selected for the Seoul Campus Town entrepreneurship program.
The university attributed its performance to an integrated technology commercialization support system linking its industry–academic cooperation foundation and technology holding company, as well as its expansion as a company builder–type accelerator covering technology transfer, startup incubation, investment and post-management.
“The selection marks a turning point in connecting the university’s accumulated industry–academic capabilities with Seoul’s strategic industries,” said Son Jin-sik, head of Kookmin University’s industry–academic cooperation foundation and vice president for planning.
“We will foster a deep-tech-based innovation startup ecosystem in northeastern Seoul, where the industrial base is relatively weak, and create a mutually beneficial growth model in which the university and the region grow together.”
