Aekyung Industrial and Dong Sung Pharm Partner with Fudan University for Dermatological and Beauty R&D Collaboration

MOU Signed to Establish a Cooperative Framework with Yangtze River Research Institute of Fudan University

Aekyung Industrial, an affiliate of Taekwang Group, and Dong Sung Pharm announced on the 28th that they have signed a 'Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)' with the Yangtze River Research Institute of Fudan University, a research-focused university in China, for collaboration in dermatological and beauty research and development.

Through this agreement, the two companies plan to establish a long-term cooperative framework in global dermatological science, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and the beauty industry. To achieve this, they will share their respective research capacities, product development experience, and clinical and research networks, and explore ways to commercialize their technologies.

On the afternoon of the 27th, Aekyung Industrial, DongSung Pharmaceutical, and the Fudan University Yangtze River Delta Research Institute in Shanghai, China signed a 'Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)' for dermatology and beauty research and development collaboration. From left to right in the photo: Taehyun Cho, Head of Strategy Support at Taekwang Group; Yongseok Choi, CEO of DongSung Pharmaceutical; Jinhua Hu, Director of the Fudan University Yangtze River Delta Research Institute; and Sangjun Kim, CEO of Aekyung Industrial. Aekyung Industrial. Photo by Aekyung Industrial

This MOU aims to combine the industrial-academic-research collaboration base in China by leveraging the scientific research capabilities, clinical and research networks, and PR and marketing expertise of the Yangtze River Research Institute. Aekyung Industrial, Dong Sung Pharm, and the institute will pursue collaboration in the following areas: joint research in skin, scalp, and hair science; research on skin and scalp data by country, region, and ethnicity; development of new ingredients, raw materials, formulations, and delivery technologies; clinical trials, human application tests, efficacy and safety evaluations; establishment of AI-based skin and scalp databases and analysis platforms; research regarding hair loss and hair coloring; publication of research results, patent applications, technology transfers and commercialization; and entry into the Chinese and global markets as well as regulatory approval processes.

Aekyung Industrial, Dong Sung Pharm, and the Yangtze River Research Institute will also review the possibilities of joint research and development, co-production facilities, establishment of joint ventures, and investment projects. The specifics regarding the participating institutions, their roles, associated costs, research outcomes, intellectual property, and commercialization conditions for each individual collaborative project will be detailed in separate future agreements.

Taekwang Group intends to support the smooth operation of the cooperative system by identifying new collaborative projects, facilitating discussions among parties, and reviewing the project structures. Depending on the content of each collaborative project, there is also the possibility for other subsidiaries of Taekwang Group, as well as domestic and overseas universities, hospitals, and research institutions, to join in the future.

To enhance the continuity and execution of the cooperation, the parties are also considering forming a joint steering committee with co-chairs from Korea and China. Through a working-level consultative body, research and project topics, role allocation, timelines, and budgets will be discussed in detail. The agreement will remain in effect for five years from the date of signing.

Sangjun Kim, CEO of Aekyung Industrial, stated, "The significance of this agreement lies in having established a long-term research cooperation platform with Fudan University's Yangtze River Research Institute. We will jointly pursue research in diverse fields such as skin and scalp data, AI analysis platforms, and new ingredients and formulations, and translate those achievements into differentiated product competitiveness."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.