SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - Kookmin University announced on Thursday that its Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation has been selected for the Seoul BRIDGE project. The initiative is a key component of the Regional Innovation System and Education (RISE) framework, a project managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to align university research with regional economic needs.
Through this selection, Kookmin University will receive 650 million won annually over the next four years, totaling 2.6 billion won in financial support. the university intends to use these funds to commercialize research in five of South Korea's primary strategic sectors: artificial intelligence, bio-health, fintech, robotics, and creative industries.
To address the historical gap between campus research and industrial application, the university is forming an industry-academic cooperation council. This group will include researchers, corporate representatives, and field experts to create a steady collaboration pipeline. The goal is to identify technical hurdles faced by startups and small businesses in Seoul and match them with existing university patents or research through a demand-based Research and Business Development (R&BD) system.
The university also plans to establish the Seoul BRIDGE Fund. This fund will capture 30 percent of all technology transfer revenue to be reinvested into the program, creating a self-sustaining cycle for future research and development.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Kookmin University was selected based on its strong track record in startup support and technology income. In the most recent JoongAng Ilbo university rankings—a prominent annual evaluation of higher education in South Korea—the school ranked second in industry-academic cooperation income per science professor and first in revenue per startup. These figures reflect the university's transition into a "company-builder" style accelerator that provides investment and post-management support rather than just simple licensing.
"The selection for the Seoul BRIDGE project is a turning point that will allow us to connect our research capabilities directly to Seoul's strategic industries," said Son Jin-sik, the head of the Kookmin University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation and vice president for planning. "We aim to build a deep-tech startup ecosystem in the northeastern district of Seoul, creating a growth model where the university and the local community thrive together."
The program will focus on practical technology applications rather than theoretical research throughout the four-year funding period.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
