The government will present plans to stimulate technology commercialization so that public research and development results lead to tangible outcomes for corporations and industries. It will enhance the technology commercialization capabilities of government-funded research institutes and universities, and also provide financial support for technology startups and improve regulations.
On the afternoon of the 30th, the Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute held a 'National Technology Commercialization Vision Declaration Ceremony' at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul. Technology commercialization is a concept that ensures public research and development results lead to actual economic effects through technology transfer or startups.
Minister Yoo Sung-im noted, "Korea has world-class research and development investment capabilities and research infrastructure, but often research results do not reach the market, remaining in laboratories. To lead future industries and become a technology leader, a healthy technology commercialization ecosystem is necessary."
The government plans to use the vision declaration ceremony as an opportunity to establish a structural foundation for connecting technologies secured through public research and development to industries, as well as to build a comprehensive support system for the entire cycle of technology commercialization through inter-ministerial collaboration. It will also prepare comprehensive support measures to aid the growth of technology startups and technology transfer corporations.
Specifically, the government plans to foster government-funded research institutes as technology commercialization hubs. It will also strengthen incentives such as related personnel and evaluation for technology commercialization. Measures are also being taken to enhance the technology commercialization capabilities of universities, with a focus on deregulating university technology holding companies. Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho stated, "We will significantly relax the equity ratio regulations on university technology holding companies."
Current law stipulates a mandatory equity ratio (10%) for subsidiaries of technology holding companies. Due to this equity ratio regulation, subsidiaries with good technology often fail to attract external investment. (Note: [Exclusive] Plans to eliminate equity regulations on university technology holding companies… Fostering technology commercialization specialized companies through private investment)
Support for entrepreneurship based on public technologies will also be expanded. The government aims to establish a support system for laboratory startups and support innovative startup laboratories holding promising technologies, with a goal of fostering 500 deep tech research institute enterprises by 2030. It will create a public technology commercialization fund of 100 billion won, and increase technology financing support for promising corporations led by the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups. It will also promote sector-specific R&D projects. In the healthcare sector, incubation centers and special zones will be designated in Osong and Daegu, while in the space sector, centers will be established in Gyeongnam, Jeonnam, and Daejeon to support corporations.
A public-private joint committee will be formed to expand the linkage of research and development projects between ministries and also to foster technology brokers. The pool of evaluators for inter-ministerial assessments will include more industry experts, and there are plans for a day dedicated to technology developers to be designated as a legal commemorative day.
Following the vision declaration ceremony, discussions continued on ways to create a technology commercialization ecosystem involving government, research, and industry experts. The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to establish a national R&D technology commercialization strategy based on the discussions held that day.