Institute for Basic Science
Institute for Basic Science is a South Korean government-funded non-profit research institute operating 9 research institutes and 35 research centers across physics, chemistry, life sciences, mathematics, earth sciences, and interdisciplinary fields, serving the academic research community via university-hosted centers nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersYusong, South Korea
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Institute for Basic Science does
The Institute for Basic Science (IBS) is a non-profit, government-owned basic science research institute established in 2011 by the Republic of Korea under the Ministry of Science and ICT, headquartered in Daejeon, South Korea. As of January 2026, IBS operates 9 research institutes and 35 research centers spanning physics (9), mathematics (3), chemistry (6), life sciences (10), earth sciences (2), and interdisciplinary fields (5), distributed across leading Korean universities including KAIST, POSTECH, Seoul National University, UNIST, Sungkyunkwan University, Yonsei University, and Ewha Womans University. Its core technology is multi-disciplinary basic science research, producing novel methodologies such as glycine transporter-targeting antisense oligonucleotide therapy for autism, cryo-EM visualization of Argonaute maturation complexes for RNA therapeutics, an AI-powered Crossbreeding Neural Network (CBNN) for catalyst discovery published in Nature Materials, gut-brain axis nutrient signaling mechanisms, and van der Waals crystal optoelectronic synaptic devices for neuromorphic computing.
IBS operates as a state-funded platform organization rather than a commercial enterprise. It does not run a commercial revenue model: funding is provided directly by the Korean government to advance fundamental research nationwide, with no disclosed pricing, ARR, or commercial product lines. Its "products" are research outputs (publications in Nature, Science, and related journals), patents transferred through its Technology Commercialization office, talent programs (Young Scientist Fellowship, Junior Chief Investigator), and graduate education via IBS School partnerships with UST, UNIST, and Ewha Womans University. The primary served segment is the academic research community across South Korea, with international scientific collaboration extending to RIKEN (Japan), Lerner Research Institute (USA), Keystone Symposia (USA), UCLA, and Max Planck Society (Germany). IBS also operates public-facing assets including the Science Culture Center, IBS Dormitory, and Research Solution Center, plus wholly-owned operating entities such as the Institute for Rare Isotope Science and the Korea Virus Research Institute.
Institute for Basic Science firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Institute for Basic Science
- Legal name
- Institute for Basic Science
- Website
- https://ibs.re.kr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Institute for Basic Science is a South Korean government-funded non-profit research institute operating 9 research institutes and 35 research centers across physics, chemistry, life sciences, mathematics, earth sciences, and interdisciplinary fields, serving the academic research community via university-hosted centers nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Institute for Basic Science industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Basic Science Research
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Technical Universities with Computing, Data & AI Focus (EDAHAEAK)
Keywords
Where Institute for Basic Science is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Yusong
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices7 records
Markets served
Institute for Basic Science business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Institute for Basic Science product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Institute for Basic Science (IBS) is a government-funded national research institute that conducts basic science research across 9 research institutes and 35 research centers spanning physics, chemistry, life sciences, mathematics, earth sciences, and interdisciplinary fields. The institute operates research centers hosted at leading Korean universities, produces high-impact scientific publications, develops novel technologies for commercialization, and runs talent development programs including the Young Scientist Fellowship and Junior Chief Investigator positions.
Product overview
Institute for Basic Science (IBS) is a national research institute founded in 2011 by the Korean government to advance basic science. IBS operates as a platform of 9 research institutes and 35 research centers spanning physics, chemistry, life sciences, mathematics, earth sciences, and interdisciplinary research. The organization is structured around collaborative research centers hosted by Korean universities, supplemented by educational programs (IBS School, YSF/Junior CI fellowships), a public-facing Science Culture Center, and technology commercialization services. IBS does not offer commercial software products or SaaS offerings; its 'products' are research outputs, publications, patents, talent programs, and scientific infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IBS Research Centers IBS operates 35 research centers across 9 research institutes spanning physics (9), mathematics (3), chemistry (6), life sciences (10), earth sciences (2), and interdisciplinary fields (5). Research centers are hosted at leading Korean universities and conduct fundamental scientific research producing publications in top-tier journals.
- Science Culture Center A public-facing science library and exhibition facility offering books, DVDs, e-books, video content, seminars, cinema facilities, conference rooms, and tours. Operates as a subsidiary of IBS focused on science culture and outreach.
- Technology Commercialization IBS transfers research outcomes including patents and technologies to industry partners for practical application and economic impact through its technology commercialization office at tech.ibs.re.kr.
- IBS School (IBS-UST) Graduate-level educational programs including IBS-UNIST Neuroscience Scholarship, university partnerships, and IBS Campus within UST (University of Science and Technology) for neuroscience and other disciplines.
- Young Scientist Fellowship (YSF) and Junior Chief Investigator (Junior CI) Talent programs providing young scientists opportunities to conduct independent research with IBS infrastructure. YSF offers 3-year appointments; Junior CI provides 5-year positions with greater independence.
- Institute for Rare Isotope Science A wholly-owned subsidiary of IBS focused on rare isotope research, operated as a core operating subsidiary.
- Korea Virus Research Institute A wholly-owned subsidiary of IBS focused on virus research, comprising the Center for Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Viruses, Center for Viral Immunology, Center for Virome and Applied Platform, and the Virus Research Resource Center.
Companies that use Institute for Basic Science
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Institute for Basic Science technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Institute for Basic Science partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.
- Sungkyunkwan UniversitycoreCollaboration on optoelectronic synaptic device research using van der Waals crystals for neuromorphic semiconductors and AI hardware. Research conducted at Sungkyunkwan University in partnership with IBS Center for Quantum Nanoscience.
- Center for Nanoparticle ResearchcoreIBS research center that developed AI-powered Crossbreeding Neural Network (CBNN) method for green hydrogen catalyst discovery, published in Nature Materials.
- Seoul National UniversitycoreJoint research on gut-brain axis mechanism revealing how gut epithelial cells detect protein deficiency and secrete CNMa hormone to reprogram feeding behavior. Study conducted in Drosophila melanogaster and validated in mice.
- Ewha Womans UniversitycoreCollaboration on gut-brain axis research investigating nutrient-specific appetite mechanisms and their therapeutic potential for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and eating disorders.
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)coreJoint research on autism spectrum disorder using CHD8 mutation mouse models to study how genetic mutation severity affects female protective effects against autism.
- Yonsei UniversitycoreCollaboration on autism research developing world's first viable homozygous mouse model carrying CHD8 mutations for studying sex differences in autism spectrum disorder.
- Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)coreJoint research on rapid Joule heating system for high-nickel cathode materials to enhance lifespan and stability of next-generation lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.
- UCLAcoreInternational collaboration on battery technology research developing rapid Joule heating system to control defects in high-nickel cathode materials during sintering process.
- Kangwon National UniversitycoreCollaboration on high-capacity, fast-charging battery research using rapid Joule heating system at 1000-1500 degrees Celsius within seconds.
- Lerner Research Institute (USA)regionalInternational MOU for joint research, science and technology information sharing, and researcher exchange programs. 5-year agreement signed November 2024.
- Keystone Symposia (USA)regionalPartnership for joint conferences in life sciences field. 3-year agreement signed November 2024.
- University of Science and Technology (UST)coreIBS Campus partnership with UST for graduate education, providing joint research and academic programs. IBS School operates joint programs with UST for neuroscience and other disciplines.
- UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology)coreIBS-UNIST Neuroscience Scholarship program and partnership for graduate education and research collaboration.
- Ewha Womans University (Education)coreEducational partnership for IBS School programs providing neuroscience scholarship opportunities and academic collaboration.
- RIKEN (Japan)regionalInternational research collaboration with RIKEN Nishina Center for accelerator-based science.
- Max Planck Society (Germany)coreJoint exhibition partnership for Art in Science 10th Anniversary Special Exhibition, showcasing the intersection of art and science.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Institute for Basic Science competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RIKEN: Japan's flagship national basic-science research institute with a multi-disciplinary center model and government funding. RIKEN is the closest direct peer to IBS in mission, structure, and funding model, and is already an IBS collaboration partner.
- Max Planck Society: Germany's premier basic-science research organization with a distributed Max Planck Institutes model and government-backed long-term funding. Comparable to IBS in its multi-disciplinary basic-science mandate, distributed center structure, and culture of fundamental research, and is an active IBS partner (Art in Science exhibition).
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST): Korea's national applied-research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT. Sister organization to IBS within the Korean government research ecosystem, with a complementary applied rather than basic-science mandate.
- Pasteur Institute: France's flagship non-profit basic-research institute with a multi-disciplinary model spanning life sciences, chemistry, and public health. Like IBS, it combines research, training, and technology transfer under a single mission-driven umbrella.
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB): UK's Medical Research Council basic-research lab with an exceptional track record of Nobel-prize-level discoveries in molecular biology. Comparable to IBS in its high-concentration basic-science model and structural-biology capability (overlapping with IBS Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Structure).
Broad incumbents
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS): China's national academy covering the full spectrum of natural sciences with ~100 institutes. CAS is a much larger incumbent version of IBS's government-funded multi-disciplinary basic-science model and the dominant Asia-Pacific research competitor.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI): US non-profit that funds long-term, investigator-driven basic research in life sciences and biomedical sciences. Comparable to IBS's life-sciences portfolio and its emphasis on giving scientists long-horizon funding rather than short-cycle grants.
Regional players
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru: India's premier public university for basic scientific research and postgraduate education. Comparable to IBS in its blend of university-based research, graduate education, and government funding, though operating in India rather than Korea.
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR): Singapore's lead public-sector R&D agency with biomedical and physical-science research institutes. Comparable to IBS as an Asia-Pacific government research umbrella, though more applied-mission oriented.
Emerging players
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies: US non-profit basic-research institute focused on molecular biology and neuroscience. Comparable to IBS's life-sciences and neuroscience imaging centers in its small-residency, high-impact basic-science operating model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Institute for Basic Science social profiles
Digital presenceInstitute for Basic Science financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Institute for Basic Science leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Institute for Basic Science subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Institute for Basic Science funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Institute for Basic Science M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Basic Science
What does Institute for Basic Science do?
Institute for Basic Science (IBS) is a government-funded national research institute that conducts basic science research across 9 research institutes and 35 research centers spanning physics, chemistry, life sciences, mathematics, earth sciences, and interdisciplinary fields. The institute operates research centers hosted at leading Korean universities, produces high-impact scientific publications, develops novel technologies for commercialization, and runs talent development programs including the Young Scientist Fellowship and Junior Chief Investigator positions.
Is Institute for Basic Science a public or private company?
Institute for Basic Science is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Institute for Basic Science founded?
Institute for Basic Science was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Institute for Basic Science based?
Institute for Basic Science is headquartered in Yusong, South Korea, in the Asia region.
Who are Institute for Basic Science's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RIKEN, Max Planck Society, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Pasteur Institute and MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB). Broad incumbents are Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Regional players are Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Salk Institute for Biological Studies is listed as an emerging player.
Does Institute for Basic Science have an API?
No public API is recorded for Institute for Basic Science.
What industry is Institute for Basic Science in?
Institute for Basic Science's product category is Basic Science Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAGAI, Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based), with a secondary code of EDAHAEAK, Technical Universities with Computing, Data & AI Focus. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.