Kookmin University Industry-Academic Cooperation

What Kookmin University Industry-Academic Cooperation does

Kookmin University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation (국민대학교 산학협력단, established 2016 per the foundation's official copyright) is a private, non-profit organizational entity established under Korean university law to administer research, technology transfer, and industry-academic cooperation activities for Kookmin University (국민대학교, a private university in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul). The foundation provides a unified suite of services including research fund administration, intellectual property management, technology transfer and commercialization, startup incubation, shared research equipment access (Shared Equipment Center, Experimental Equipment Center, Experimental Animal Center), research ethics committee administration, and entrepreneurship education programs.

Its core operational infrastructure includes the Research Integrated Search System (연구통합검색시스템), the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer System, the university technology introduction platform (bizmatch.kr), and ten wholly-owned subsidiaries or internal units — notably KMU Holdings (국민대학교기술지주) for technology commercialization, HAL Entertainment (할엔터테인먼트) for content production, the Startup Incubation Center, the Entrepreneurship Startup Hub, the Jiam Innovators' Studio, the Campus Town Business Unit, and the SME Industry-Academic Cooperation Center. It operates dedicated research centers spanning AI, quantum computing, robotics, biotechnology, semiconductors, and design.

The foundation operates a non-commercial revenue model: it does not sell products or services but rather administers research funds drawn from national R&D programs (MSIT, MOTIE, NRF, KEIT, KIIPE, etc.), industry-matched partnership contributions, government startup and innovation subsidies, and revenue from its technology holding subsidiary. Its go-to-market model is direct service delivery to the Kookmin University community and to its 388+ MOU partner organizations. Primary stakeholders are university faculty and researchers, with secondary segments of industry partners (Hyundai, KT, SK Telecom, Kakao Mobility, Megazone Cloud, Hanwha Systems, and others) and student entrepreneurs. General Director Sohn Jinsik leads the organization, supported by a Deputy General Director and approximately 11-50 staff across finance, research support, industry-academic cooperation, shared equipment, and subsidiary functions.

Name

Kookmin University Industry-Academic Cooperation

Legal name

국민대학교 산학협력단

Website

https://research.kookmin.ac.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kookmin University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation is a non-profit university foundation administering research funds, technology transfer, IP management, startup incubation, and shared research infrastructure for Kookmin University faculty, students, and 388+ industry/government partners in South Korea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

The Kookmin University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation (국민대학교 산학협력단) is a university-affiliated non-profit organization that manages and administers research funds, intellectual property, technology transfer, startup incubation, shared research equipment, and research ethics for Kookmin University. It serves as the central liaison between the university's researchers/faculty and external industry partners, facilitating joint research, MOU partnerships, commercialization of university-held technologies, and entrepreneurship programs for students and faculty. The foundation also operates subsidiaries such as KMU Technology Holdings (KMU Holdings) for technology commercialization and HAL Entertainment for school-affiliated content production.

Product overview

Kookmin University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation (국민대학교 산학협력단) operates as a comprehensive university-industry collaboration organization providing multi-faceted research support services. The foundation's core offerings include a Research Integrated Search System (연구통합검색시스템) for unified research information access, an Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer System covering patent support and technology commercialization, and the university technology introduction platform (대학보유기술소개). Key infrastructure includes the Shared Equipment Center (공동기기원) offering equipment management and analysis services, the Experimental Equipment Center (실험기기센터), and the Research Administration System (연구행정시스템). The foundation supports startups and entrepreneurship through the Startup Incubation Center (创业보육센터), Entrepreneurship Startup Hub (기업가정신创业허브), Campus Town Business Unit (캠퍼스타운사업단), and the Jiam Innovators' Studio. Its subsidiary, KMU Technology Holdings (국민대학교기술지주), manages technology commercialization, IP rights, and startup incubation, while the Graduate School of Global Entrepreneurship Venture provides academic programs for startup education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Fund Management and Administration
• Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Services
• Startup Incubation and Entrepreneurship Support
• Shared Research Equipment Center Services
• Research Ethics Committee Administration
• Industry-Academic Partnership and MOU Management
• KMU Technology Holdings (국민대학교기술지주)
• Campus Town Business Unit (캠퍼스타운사업단)
• SME Industry-Academic Cooperation Center (중소기업산학협력센터)
• University Technology Introduction Platform (대학보유기술소개)
• Attached Research Centers (부설연구소)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

59 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Korea Technology Business Association and Korea Technology Trade Association (한국기술사업화협회, 한국기술거래사회)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026MOU for activating technology business ecosystem and fostering field-oriented creative convergence talent development.
• FISU (International University Sports Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026MOU for operating FISU Master program for graduate school - international sports education cooperation expansion and global sports specialized human resources cultivation.
• Megazone Cloud (메가존클라우드)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2026MOU for leading Korea's quantum computing industry through joint research, information sharing, and strategic industry-academic initiatives.
• TextroNix (주)텍스트로닉스minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026MOU for joint promotion of basic research laboratory support project.
• Korea Textile & Fashion Industry-Academic Association (사)한국섬유패션산학협회minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026MOU for joint promotion of basic research laboratory support project.
• Konik Glory (주)코닉글로리minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2025MOU for joint research on cybersecurity systems using artificial intelligence and technology commercialization.
• PADEKO GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025MOU for university technology commercialization and corporate business activation.
• GLIWA, ITIV AIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025MOU for talent development in automobile software timing verification field.
• Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Nagoya University, Busan Techno-Park, Hanwha SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025MOU for CMOS-compatible quantum memory-based quantum repeater core device technology development and industry-academic cooperation foundation.
• Tasking Korea (태스킹코리아)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2025MOU for creating and spreading industry-academic cooperation model and cultivating excellent talent and technology support.
• KT Corporation (주)케이티coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2025MOU for AI convergence technology development cooperation.
• KT&G (주)케이티앤지minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2025MOU for international development cooperation model and SDGs/ESG initiatives.
• Wise Mentor (와이즈멘토)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2025MOU for creating industry-academic cooperation model and cultivating excellent talent and technology support.
• Ranix (주)라닉스minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2025MOU for talent cultivation through industry-academic cooperation and technology exchange related to post-quantum cryptography.
• Pocheon City (포천시)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2025MOU for unmanned mobility technology development and business activation in Pocheon City.
• Korea Biotechnology Association (한국바이오협회)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2025MOU for joint promotion of 2025 advanced industry specialization university financial support project.
• BioCraft (주)바이오크래프트minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2025MOU for establishing and operating corporate research center within the university.
• Artutor (주)아티튜터minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2025MOU for AI motion recognition-based ballet AI coaching development research project.
• Korea Institute of Chemical Technology (한국화학연구원)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2025MOU for academic exchange and joint research for producing industry-academic cooperation results.
• TextroNix (주)텍스트로닉스minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2025MOU for global basic research laboratory support project.
• Hyundai Motor Company (현대자동차)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2025MOU for R&D promotion of robot functional skin and ultra-sensory research center.
• Donga Trading (동아무역)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2024MOU for cooperation in semiconductor research equipment development.
• INITEC (주)이니텍minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2024MOU for talent cultivation and post-quantum cryptography technology exchange through industry-academic cooperation.
• Kyungdong Navien (주)경동나비엔minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2024MOU for boiler upcycling project.
• Nurilab (주)누리랩minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2024MOU for joint R&D project and industry-academic cooperation.
• Soombi (주)숨비minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2024MOU for joint R&D of unmanned aerial vehicle hybrid propulsion system.
• Daegu-Gyeongbuk Advanced Medical Industry Promotion Foundation (K-MEDIHUB)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2024MOU for building research and development cooperation system related to medical industry.
• Airbility (에어빌리티)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 July 2024MOU for joint R&D of unmanned aerial vehicle hybrid propulsion system.
• Parity (주)패리티minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 July 2024MOU for joint R&D of unmanned aerial vehicle hybrid propulsion system.
• Dongdaemun-gu Carbon Neutral Support Center (동대문구탄소중립지원센터)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2024MOU for climate change response technology R&D outcome dissemination and building demonstration base, and building-applied solar design R&D application.
• Korea Pasteur Institute (재)한국파스퇴르연구소 and Kookmin University Technology Holdings (주)국민대학교기술지주minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2024MOU for activating R&D and technology commercialization.
• ADI Design MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2024MOU for international project invitation and cooperation, Kookmin University R&D overseas advancement, and global design cooperation and design development.
• Gwangju Design Promotion Foundation (재)광주디자인진흥원minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2024MOU for cultivating design industry talent and successfully holding Gwangju Design Biennale.
• Kakao Mobility (주)카카오모빌리티coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 April 2024MOU for joint business and research support for activating advanced mobility industry.
• Korea Institute of Science and Technology Seoul Bio-Hub Business Division (한국과학기술연구원 서울바이오허브사업단)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024MOU for establishing operation cooperation system for 'Industry-Academia-Research Innovation Network Council'.
• KBiolab (주)케이바이오랩minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2024MOU for cultivating specialized human resources and joint research using soil microbiome for ecosystem restoration.
• Gwangju Metropolitan City (광주광역시)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2024MOU for joint promotion of excellent talent cultivation and technology development needed for creating ultra-large AI mobility ecosystem.
• Kookmin University Asia Olympic Graduate School (국민대학교 아시아올림픽대학원)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2024MOU with Sports Safety Foundation for international sports and sports safety field education and research cooperation expansion.
• Dong-A Ilbo (동아일보)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 January 2024MOU for establishing Laos digital innovation SME department and cultivating startup talent for professional human resources base.
• Intellibic (주)인텔리빅스minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2023MOU for joint promotion of technology/human resources exchange and cultivation projects.
• Daegu Technopark (재)대구테크노파크minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023MOU for promoting commercialization and technology transfer mediation of technologies developed and held by Kookmin University.
• BioCraft (주)바이오크래프트minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2023MOU for deriving and conducting joint research projects and establishing/operating corporate research centers.
• Korea National Institute of Arts (한국예술종합학교)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2023MOU for mutual exchange and cooperation in education, research, and industry-academic cooperation.
• Korea Automobile Technology Institute (한국자동차연구원)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2023MOU for leading future mobility and building industry ecosystem.
• Keysight Technologies Korea (키사이트테크놀로지스코리아)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 October 2023MOU for creating industry-academic cooperation model using next-generation integrated electronic design automation (EDA) software and building national-level cutting-edge field talent cultivation system.
• Hyundai Kepco (주)현대케피코minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023MOU for operating targeted lab for cultivating power electronics field specialists through recruitment-linked industry-academic cooperation.
• Jeonju Metropolitan Office of EducationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 July 2023MOU for supporting students with dyslexia and cultivating dyslexia experts.
• SK Telecom (에스케이텔레콤)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2023MOU for promoting Ministry of Education next-generation communication field innovation convergence university support project.
• Korea Foundation for Science and Technology Culture (한국청년기업가정신재단)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2023MOU for discovering excellent initial startup companies and activating entrepreneurship research.
• KT Corporation (주)케이티coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2023MOU for quantum cryptography communication technology security verification collaboration.
• Korea Automobile Technology Institute (한국자동차연구원)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023MOU for promoting Ministry of Education next-generation communication field innovation convergence university support project.
• Gyeonggi Content Agency (경기콘텐츠진흥원)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2023MOU for development and research contributing to content and design development.
• Autodesk Korea (주)오토데스크코리아minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2023MOU for metaverse ecosystem innovation.
• K-Power (케이파워)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2023MOU for creating and spreading carbon neutrality and carbon-negative industry-academic cooperation model.
• First Gate (주)퍼스트게이트minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 January 2023MOU for TIPS project consortium building.
• CityNetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 December 2022MOU for specialized human resources cultivation and technology support for Asia-Pacific region SDGs achievement.
• Above Semiconductor (어보브반도체)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2022MOU for creating industry-academic cooperation model and cultivating excellent talent and technology support in system semiconductor field.
• Korea Accelerator Association (사)한국액셀러레이터협회minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2022MOU for building startup support and startup education network.
• Wellport (주)웰포트minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2021MOU for joint research to develop universal centrifugal high-concentration quantitative platelet extraction device for autologous platelet-rich plasma treatment.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• UNIST Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology) operates a comparable IACF focused on industry-academic cooperation in advanced materials, energy, and biotech. Comparable in mission but regional rather than Seoul-based.
• Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) IACF: DGIST's IACF is a comparable science-and-engineering-focused university foundation, with strong government-backed industry-academic cooperation programs in robotics, energy, and biotech. Comparable model but operates in the Daegu/Gyeongbuk region.

Direct peers

• Korea University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: Korea University's IACF is a near-twin peer in terms of Seoul-based private research university scale, MOU portfolio, and startup ecosystem investments. Closely comparable in mission and operating model.
• KAIST Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: KAIST's IACF is the leading STEM-focused Korean university foundation for technology transfer and startup creation, with deep roots in AI, semiconductors, robotics, and biotech. Highly comparable given the foundation's own STEM and tech transfer emphasis.
• Hanyang University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: Hanyang's IACF is another large Seoul-based private university foundation with comparable research administration, equipment sharing, and startup incubation programs, particularly strong in engineering and design.
• Sungkyunkwan University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: SKKU's foundation has particularly strong tech transfer and corporate partnership programs (notably with Samsung), making it a directly comparable peer on industry-academic cooperation depth and tech commercialization scale.
• Chung-Ang University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: Chung-Ang's IACF is a Seoul-based private university foundation with comparable scope of research administration, MOU partnerships, and startup incubation. Particularly relevant given its strength in arts, design, and engineering convergence areas overlapping with Kookmin's portfolio.
• POSTECH Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: POSTECH's IACF is a leading peer on STEM commercialization and spinoff creation in Korea. Comparable given its emphasis on high-commercialization research translation, though at a smaller university scale.
• Seoul National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: SNU's industry-academic cooperation foundation operates the same Korean university-law structure providing research administration, tech transfer, and startup incubation. As Korea's flagship public research university, it represents the most authoritative peer for benchmarking scale and government program capture.
• Yonsei University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: Yonsei's private university foundation manages a similarly large portfolio of industry MOUs, R&D administration, and startup support. Directly comparable as another major Seoul-based private research university foundation competing for the same corporate and government partnerships.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/kmu_tweet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIEWwnGtqeBckCTzrFXoEQw
• Facebookfacebook.com/kookmin.univ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kookmin-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/kookmin.univ

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kookmin University Industry-Academic Cooperation