Pusan National University Selected as the Only National University for 'Open R&D Center'... 6 Billion Won Support Over Four Years

Four Deep-Tech Startups Move In

Pusan National University is set to fully embark on "open collaborative innovation," directly bringing deep-tech startups into university research spaces for joint research and development (R&D) efforts.

The Color Modulation Hyper-Sensory Cognition Technology Leading Research Center at Pusan National University (President Choi Jaewon) announced the official launch of its project by holding a plaque ceremony for the "Color Modulation Hyper-Sensory Cognition Technology Open Collaborative Innovation R&D Center" on the 13th at the on-campus Science and Technology Research Building.

The event was attended by Choi Jaewon, President of Pusan National University; Kim Donghyun, Director-General of Future Strategy at Busan Metropolitan City; Kim Byungguk, President of the Korea Technology Commercialization Promotion Agency; as well as representatives from companies and related stakeholders.

This project is supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and managed by the Korea Technology Commercialization Promotion Agency. The core idea is to host startups within university research centers, combining the research capabilities of the university with the technological prowess of companies, and providing close support from joint R&D to commercialization.

This year, only two research institutions were selected: Pusan National University and UNIST. Notably, Pusan National University is the only national university chosen, establishing a foundation to further expand the university-industry collaboration model centered on regional universities.

With this selection, Pusan National University will receive a total of 6 billion won in support over four years. The university plans to build a new type of university-industry collaboration ecosystem by combining its advanced research facilities, equipment, and specialized human resources with the technology and commercialization capabilities of early-stage deep-tech startups.

At the center of the project is the Color Modulation Hyper-Sensory Cognition Technology Leading Research Center of Pusan National University. Professor Kim Changseok's research team from the Department of Advanced Convergence and Optical Mechatronics Engineering possesses research and educational expertise in laser technology that freely modulates wavelengths, as well as in bio-medical imaging systems and physical AI applications based on big data.

Through this Open Innovation & Research Collaboration (OIRC) project, four deep-tech startups with expertise in the bio-healthcare and laser medical technology sectors will move into the center.

The companies will utilize the university's research facilities and personnel, merging their core technologies with the university's research expertise to promote joint R&D. They will also receive commercialization consulting through Pusan National University Holdings Co., Ltd., the university's technology commercialization arm.

The fields of technology addressed by the incoming companies align with future trends in the medical industry.

Arc Co., Ltd. develops integrated healthcare solutions for early diagnosis of blinding and chronic diseases, based on fundus imaging devices and AI diagnostic software.

MetaTwin Healthcare Co., Ltd. is working on smart medical devices for dry eye diagnosis using digital twin and AI technologies, and seeks to develop healthcare platforms customized for the elderly by linking these with care data.

Dotor Co., Ltd. is developing next-generation cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology and biodegradable stents. Froide Co., Ltd. is developing medical imaging device solutions, such as pathological tissue optical imaging, utilizing optical, vision, and AI technologies.

Ultimately, the project focuses on turning basic technologies possessed by the university and the commercialization capabilities of companies into actual products and services, covering the spectrum from fundus imaging and dry eye diagnosis to cardiovascular diagnosis/treatment and broader medical imaging.

This approach is distinguished by the physical proximity of research facilities and companies, unlike conventional methods that support startups outside the campus. According to Pusan National University, researchers and businesses can share technology and conduct joint research on a day-to-day basis, speeding up development and increasing the likelihood of commercialization.

Through this initiative, the university aims to expand its role beyond just a space for producing research output, further evolving into a regional innovation hub that upgrades technology together with companies and spreads it into the industrial field.

Choi Jaewon, President of Pusan National University, stated, "The launch of this Open Collaborative Innovation R&D Center is the result of the synergy between Pusan National University's excellent research capabilities and the pioneering spirit of startups. We expect this project to become a strong model for a university-centered system of collaboration among universities, industry, and research institutes led by a flagship national university."

The Color Modulation Super-Sensory Perception Technology Leading Research Center at Pusan National University held a plaque ceremony for the 'Color Modulation Super-Sensory Perception Technology Open Joint Innovation R&D Center' on the 13th at the university's Science and Technology Research Building and took a commemorative photo.

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