Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation

What Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation does

Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation (건국대학교 산학협력단), established March 2004, is the dedicated research administration and technology commercialization office for Konkuk University in South Korea. Operating from its Seoul headquarters and the GLOCAL campus in Chungju, the foundation serves as a one-stop intermediary between Konkuk University faculty, graduate students, government funding agencies, and external industry partners. Its primary activities include administering national R&D project funds (notably from MSIT and NRF), managing intellectual property and patents, facilitating technology transfer to industry, supporting faculty startups through the KU BRIDGE 3.0 program, and disbursing student labor costs and STEM Research Living Allowances (이공계 연구생활장려금) to graduate researchers.

The foundation operates three core IT platforms: the Research Administration Integration System (연구행정통합시스템, kurnd.konkuk.ac.kr), the Student Labor Cost Integrated Management system (학생인건비통합관리), and the Research Information Management System (연구정보관리 시스템, pure.konkuk.ac.kr). These platforms manage the full lifecycle of research project administration — from grant application through compliance reporting — alongside sub-services covering technology transfer, IP rights, faculty startup support, the One-Stop Service, vocational training programs (KDT KU Bio Health Academy), and a Technology Holding Company managing equity in 15 university spin-off subsidiaries. FY2024 financial disclosure (for student labor cost accounts) showed 22.35 billion KRW in total revenue across 550 accounts, with a 67.2% disbursement ratio and 0.2% improper recovery rate.

Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) government research fund administration with retained overhead (indirect costs / 간접비) on nationally funded R&D, which is the primary mechanism; (2) technology transfer and licensing royalties, including proceeds from BRIDGE 3.0 spin-offs via the Technology Holding Company; and (3) professional services revenue from training programs such as KDT digital training and professional certifications. The foundation's pricing is institutionally regulated rather than commercially set — student stipends are tied to government benchmark minimums, and the foundation is itself a designated public institution under MSIT oversight. Distribution occurs through direct delivery to internal university stakeholders (faculty and graduate students) via the research administration portal, public notice boards, periodic information sessions, and a technology marketplace for external industry partners.

Name

Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation

Legal name

Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation (건국대학교 산학협력단)

Website

https://research.konkuk.ac.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation is the dedicated research administration and technology commercialization office for Konkuk University in South Korea. It manages government R&D funds, IP and patents, faculty startup support via BRIDGE 3.0, and student labor cost disbursement for university researchers and graduate students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Research Administration Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHABAB

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Private Research Universities

SECONDARYEDAHABAH

Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Private Research Universities

Keywords

• University research administration
• Technology transfer services
• Industry-academia collaboration
• Patent commercialization programs
• Research funding management

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Research Fund Administration (간접비): The organization manages national R&D project funds (국가연구개발사업) and retains indirect cost (간접비) from government-funded research. This is the primary revenue stream, covering institutional overhead from externally funded grants.
2. Technology Transfer / Licensing Royalties (기술이전): Revenue generated from technology transfer activities including patent licensing, technology sales, and proceeds from the BRIDGE 3.0 program. The BRIDGE 3.0 initiative supports patent utilization and technology commercialization, with technology holding company subsidiaries.
3. Training and Education Programs: Revenue from education and training programs such as KU 바이오헬스 아카데미 (KDT-funded bio-health academy), 치유농업사 (Healing Agriculture certification), and other professional development programs for students and job seekers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation administers and supports the full lifecycle of university research and industry collaboration for Konkuk University. Its offerings include government R&D project funding administration with indirect cost recovery, patent and intellectual property management, technology transfer and licensing to industry, faculty startup incubation (including the BRIDGE 3.0 program supporting 15 spin-off companies through an affiliated technology holding company), one-stop application support services for external project proposals, and STEM research living allowance stipends for graduate student researchers.

Product overview

Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation operates as a university-level research administration and technology commercialization organization, not a software product company. Its offerings consist of administrative services and programs supporting university research and industry collaboration. The core platform is the 연구행정통합시스템 (Research Administration Integration System), which provides integrated online research management. Supporting sub-products include the 학생인건비통합관리 system for student labor cost management, the 원스탑 서비스 one-stop support service for external project applications, and the 이공계 연구생활장려금 graduate student stipend program. Technology commercialization offerings include 기술이전 (technology transfer), 지식재산권 (IP/patent services), 교원창업 (faculty startup support), and the KU BRIDGE 3.0 patent commercialization program. Vocational training programs such as KDT 디지털트레이닝 and the KU Bio Health Academy are also offered. The technology holding company structure manages spin-off ventures. All services are internal university administrative platforms, not commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Administration Integrated System (연구행정통합시스템) Integrated online platform for managing research administration processes including project applications, budget management, and institutional workflow approvals. Used by Konkuk University faculty researchers and administrators to apply for and administer external research projects.
• One-Stop Service (원스탑 서비스) Coordinated internal support service for faculty members applying for external projects, providing unified review and approval for space, personnel, and matching fund requests across multiple internal departments. Targeted at Konkuk University faculty researchers needing internal support review for project applications.
• STEM Research Living Allowance (이공계 연구생활장려금) Monthly stipend supplement program for full-time graduate students in science and engineering fields, bridging the gap between existing compensation and minimum benchmark amounts (800,000 KRW/month for master's, 1,100,000 KRW/month for doctoral/integrated programs). Targeted at Konkuk University graduate students participating in national R&D projects.
• Technology Transfer Service (기술이전) Service facilitating the transfer of university-developed technologies and patents to industry partners, including evaluation, contracting, and commercialization support. Targeted at external companies and industry partners seeking to license Konkuk University IP.
• Intellectual Property Rights Service (지식재산권) IP management services including patent search, technology introduction materials (SMK), and small-patent sales to support technology dissemination and commercialization. Targeted at Konkuk University faculty researchers and external industry partners.
• Faculty Startup Support (교수창업)

Quantifiable outcome

• Student labor cost disbursement rate of 67.2% (2024): 550 accounts, total revenue 22.3 billion KRW, disbursed 15.0 billion KRW.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 국방기술진흥연구소 (KRIT)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Listed as a related/recommended site on the KU 산학협력단 website footer. Not a formal partnership agreement but a linked government organization relevant to research collaboration.
• 한국연구재단 (NRF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026NRF (National Research Foundation of Korea) is the primary government funding agency for national R&D projects. The 산학협력단 manages all NRF-funded research projects at 건국대학교, from application to administration and reporting.
• 한국산업기술진흥원 (KIAT)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026KIAT (Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology) is referenced as a related site. Not a formal partnership but a linked organization involved in industrial technology R&D funding.
• 한국과학기술기획평가원 (KISTEP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Listed as a related site in the footer. KISTEP conducts science and technology planning and evaluation, relevant to national R&D project oversight.
• 한국환경산업기술원 (KEITI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Listed as a related site. KEITI is a government organization for environmental industry technology, relevant to certain research projects.
• 미래창조과학부 (MSIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) is the primary government ministry overseeing national R&D projects and student labor cost integrated management institutions. The 산학협력단 operates under MSIT regulations for managing government research funds.
• 교육부 (MOE)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Listed as a related site in the footer. The Ministry of Education oversees university operations and certain research/education funding programs.
• 건국대학교 기술지주회사 (Konkuk University Technology Holdings)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026The technology holding company (기술지주회사) is an affiliated entity that manages equity in spin-off startups from the university's BRIDGE 3.0 program. It currently holds equity in 15 subsidiary companies. The 산학협력단 collaborates with the technology holding company for technology commercialization and startup support.
• KOICA (한국국제협력단)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) runs the ODA Young Professional program. The 산학협력단 has published recruitment notices for KOICA YP positions, indicating collaboration on international development cooperation projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST): KIST is a government research institute under KISTEP oversight that performs R&D, technology transfer, and spinoff incubation at a much larger scale. Overlaps with Konkuk on the technology commercialization and IP licensing mandate, though funded primarily by government appropriation rather than indirect-cost recovery.
• KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology): KAIST is Korea's premier public STEM research university with its own research administration and holding structure (KAIST Holdings). It has a larger absolute research output and IP portfolio than Konkuk and sets the benchmark for university technology commercialization in Korea.

Others

• Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KIBO): KIBO is a government-backed technology financing institution that funds and acquires equity in early-stage Korean tech startups. Adjacent ecosystem participant to Konkuk's BRIDGE program and a potential partner or alternative capital provider for the foundation's spinoff portfolio.

Direct peers

• Korea University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: Korea University's 산학협력단 runs the same mix of research grant management, IP commercialization, and faculty startup programs for a competing Seoul-based private research university. Operates the BRIDGE-equivalent program and the KU Holdings technology vehicle.
• Sungkyunkwan University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: Sungkyunkwan's 산학협력단 carries out research administration and technology transfer for a top-tier private Korean university heavily focused on engineering and natural sciences — strong overlap with Konkuk's STEM emphasis and Samsung-linked industry collaboration.
• Seoul National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: Konkuk's closest structural peer — SNU's 산학협력단 performs the identical set of functions (national R&D fund administration, IP management, technology transfer, faculty startup support, student labor cost management) for South Korea's flagship research university. Comparable scale, governance, and revenue model.
• KAIST Holdings: KAIST Holdings is a university-affiliated technology holding company — the same construct as Konkuk University Technology Holdings — managing equity in spinoff startups and providing commercialization services. Directly comparable business model on the holdings/equity side.
• POSTECH Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: POSTECH's foundation supports a leading STEM-focused private research university with one of Korea's strongest records of faculty spinoffs and technology licensing, providing a high-end benchmark for BRIDGE-style commercialization.
• Hanyang University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: Hanyang's 산학협력단 supports an engineering-heavy private research university with a comparable portfolio: NRF grant administration, IP management, faculty startup incubation, and student labor cost disbursement.
• Yonsei University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: Yonsei's 산학협력단 manages research administration, technology licensing, and startup incubation for another major private Korean research university with strong STEM and medical programs (Severance Hospital). Directly comparable on mandate, services, and customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dept.-of-chemistry-konkuk-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation