Позитивные изменения. Том 3, № 3 (2023). Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 3 (2023)

INDUSTRIAL-ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP

Many leading Korean universities are placing a strategic emphasis on fostering collaboration between academia and industry. Korea University, for instance, is actively cultivating innovative forms of engagement with industrial enterprises. These partnerships are not merely mutually beneficial but also serve as a bulwark against crises. Underpinning these endeavors are specialized programs, developed in partnership with the industrial and technical sectors, guaranteeing employment for graduates at partner enterprises.

Sungkyunkwan University, situated in Seoul, has etched industrial-academic collaboration as a pivotal element of its 2030 development vision titled “Development and Coexistence.” This multifaceted initiative seeks to stoke entrepreneurial spirit, with long-term benefits accruing to the regional community and the nation as a whole.

University’s President Shin Dong-Ryeol provides insight into their approach, explaining, “In 2015, we established a startup support group to bridge the chasm between scientific research outcomes and tangible business ventures.”

To boost investment activity in the startup sphere, a venture capital fund has been instituted. Moreover, a streamlined one-stop support system has been deployed to assist startups at every juncture, from technology scouting to project monetization. During the investment quest, fledgling startups gain access to face-to-face interactions with venture capital firms, all within the confines of the university’s ecosystem.

It’s worth highlighting that the university doesn’t solely nurture external entrepreneurial initiatives; it also fosters internal projects. Take Olix, a pharmaceutical development company founded by Professor Lee Dong-Gi from the Faculty of Chemistry as a prime example. Today, this enterprise commands a market value hovering around 250 billion Korean won. Olix’s success story is far from unique, as the university has established a thriving incubator that has hatched over 70 startups, with university faculty members spearheading many of these initiatives. In the words of President Shin, “Startups have emerged as the new driving force propelling our nation’s growth.”