INNOPOLIS Foundation

What INNOPOLIS Foundation does

INNOPOLIS Foundation (연구개발특구진흥재단, DBA "INNOPOLIS" / "Korea Innovation Foundation") is a Korean government-affiliated public institution (기타공공기관) established under the Special Act on the Promotion of Research and Development Special Zones and overseen by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Founded on the 1974 origins of the Daedeok R&D Special Zone, it serves as the central coordinating body for Korea's network of R&D innovation clusters, currently operating 8 regional clusters (Daedeok/Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, Jeonbuk, Gangwon, Sejong, and the Science Belt) plus the Growth-specialized program. Its functional mandate is to commercialize deep-tech research by connecting startups, research institute companies, and universities with public capital, co-investment funds, infrastructure, and global markets.

The foundation's core technology stack is a portfolio of in-house digital platforms that run the special zone machinery: a Business Management System (PMS) for R&D project submission and management, an Occupancy/Tenant Management System (IMS), a Technology Integration Management System (TIMS), a Management Information System (MIS), and a Meeting Room Integration System spanning 5 facilities. Its program portfolio includes the Deep-Tech Startup Challenge (KRW 1B+ direct investment per company, KRW 600M per project R&D support), the KAIST-co-delivered Scale-up Expert L.E.A.D. Program (14-week IPO-readiness curriculum), the 4-Pole Cooperation Regional Investment Roadshow, and the 2026 Korea-US Advanced Biotech Cooperation Seminar with Johns Hopkins and Harvard. Physical distribution is via Tech-Biz Centers in Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, and Jeonbuk, plus Sejong SB Plaza and Science Belt BCC locations in Cheongju and Cheonan.

The operating model is a government-mandated intermediary rather than a commercial entity. Revenue is fully replaced by annual national budget appropriations and ministry-allocated program funds; the foundation does not generate commercial revenue and individual program pricing is not publicly disclosed. Tenant companies receive facilities (some meeting rooms available for paid reservation, with 50% tenant discount), and a Co-Growth (상생) lending program channels preferential debt through four major Korean banks (KB Kookmin, IBK, Woori, Hana). Recommended companies can register on the Public Procurement Service's "Venture Nara" platform, providing public-sector go-to-market access. Customer segments are deep-tech startups, formally registered research institute companies, large corporate R&D labs, and pre-startup entrepreneurs in the special zones. Strategic partnerships with KAIST, POSTECH, UNIST, DGIST, KERI, KATECH, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and DRB (including DRB Vietnam) underpin the talent and global market expansion layers. In 2025 the foundation received the Web Award Korea Public Institution Grand Prize and a Personal Information Protection Grade B assessment in 2024.

Name

INNOPOLIS Foundation

Legal name

연구개발특구진흥재단

Website

https://innopolis.or.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

INNOPOLIS Foundation is a Korean public institution under the Ministry of Science and ICT that manages 8 regional R&D special zones, channeling government investment, loans, infrastructure, and programs to deep-tech startups, research institute companies, and corporate R&D labs across Korea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Cluster Management

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investors, Nec (6799)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Institutional Capacity Building & Training (Workforce/Systems Strengthening) (BPADAEAC)

Keywords

• R&D special zone management
• Deep-tech startup support
• Technology commercialization
• Innovation cluster operations
• Government innovation funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Busan

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

INNOPOLIS Foundation manages Korea's network of R&D special zones and innovation clusters, providing deep-tech startups and research institute companies with integrated support including direct investment (KRW 1B+ per company), R&D grants, office and meeting facilities (Tech-Biz Centers), technology commercialization programs, and co-growth lending facilitation through partner banks. It coordinates startup challenges, scale-up acceleration programs, investment roadshows, and global market entry support across 8 regional clusters in South Korea.

Product overview

INNOPOLIS Foundation operates a unified platform portfolio comprising internal management systems (Business Management System for R&D project submission, Tenant Management System for facility operations, Management Information System for internal administration, and Technology Integration Management System) and public-facing services including the Meeting Room Integration System across 5 special R&D zones. The organization also runs technology commercialization programs such as the Deep-tech Startup Challenge and the KAIST-cooperated Scale-up Expert L.E.A.D. Program, along with the IRIS R&D communication portal for researchers. All systems support the foundation's mission of fostering deep-tech innovation and technology business incubation within Korea's special R&D zones.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2026 Deep-tech Startup Challenge (연구개발특구 딥테크 스타트업 챌린지) A competitive program supporting excellent deep-tech startups within R&D special zones, providing direct investment of at least KRW 1 billion per company (up to 3 companies) and R&D support of up to KRW 600 million per project, plus KRW 17 million in prize money and ministerial awards. Targeted at deep-tech companies in 12 national strategic technology fields.
• INNOPOLIS Scale-up Expert L.E.A.D Program (이노폴리스 Scale-up Expert L.E.A.D Program) A 14-week deep-tech entrepreneurship and exit preparation program covering Listing (기술상장), Expert C-Level (전문경영진), Advancement (고도화), and Deep-tech innovation (딥테크혁신). Co-operated with KAIST and targeted at growth-stage deep-tech technology companies preparing for IPO.
• Tech-Biz Center Facilities (테크비즈센터) Physical innovation infrastructure across 5 R&D special zones (Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, Jeonbuk), providing office and meeting room facilities for pre-startups, tenant companies, and research institutes. Includes the Daedeok TBC, Gwangju Inno-Biz Center, Daegu TBC, Busan Global Tech-Biz Center, and Jeonbuk TBC. Meeting room reservation available with 50% discount for tenant companies.
• DRB Open Innovation Program (대덕특구 이노폴리스캠퍼스 DRB 오픈이노베이션) An open innovation program recruiting 2 domestic and 2 global companies for technology validation (PoC) and investment review based on DRB (Doosan Robotics) demand technology areas, including a global track via DRB Vietnam.
• 4-Pole Cooperation Regional Investment Roadshow (4극 협력 권역별 투자로드쇼) A regional investment roadshow series held across 4 poles (metropolitan and strong-small special zones) from June to July 2026, featuring R&D Special Zone Fund briefings and 1:1 investor matching meetings with focus funds for deep-tech and research institute companies in national strategic technology fields.
• Co-Growth (상생) Lending Support System Co-growth loan support program distributed through partner banks (KB Kookmin Bank, IBK Industrial Bank, Woori Bank, Hana Bank), providing preferential lending terms to companies operating within R&D special zones.
• Venture Nara Recommendation Program (벤처나라 추천) Program recommending promising R&D special zone companies (research institute companies, cutting-edge technology companies, and special zone cultivation/Science Belt project companies) for registration on the Public Procurement Service's 'Venture Nara' platform to access public procurement markets.
• Science & Technology Specialized University Technology Startup Investment Contest (연구개발특구 과학기술특성화대학 기술창업투자 경진대회) Technology startup investment competition for 12 national strategic technology fields, hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and organized by INNOPOLIS Foundation, with participation from KAIST, DGIST, UNIST, POSTECH, Korea Development Bank, and LG Science Park.

Quantifiable outcome

• Direct investment of KRW 1B+ for up to 3 companies per year under the 2026 Deep-Tech Startup Challenge program, plus R&D support of up to KRW 600M per project
• +2 more outcomes

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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KAISTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2026KAIST collaborates with INNOPOLIS Foundation as a co-operator of the Scale-up Expert L.E.A.D. Program (2026 edition), a 14-week deep-tech entrepreneurship and exit preparation program running from September 2026 to February 2027 at Daedeok Tech-Biz Center. KAIST faculty contribute to curriculum delivery and participant selection, providing academic credibility and research network access for participating growth-stage companies.
• Johns Hopkins University and Harvard UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2026Johns Hopkins and Harvard scholars participate in the 2026 Daedeok Special Zone Korea-US Advanced Biotech Technology Cooperation Seminar (2026 대덕특구 한·미 첨단바이오 기술협력 세미나), sharing latest trends in organoid, AI, and global healthcare. The seminar is organized to strengthen the global technology commercialization capacity of the Daedeok Special Zone's advanced biotech ecosystem.
• UNIST, KERI (한국전기연구원), KATECH (한국자동차연구원), POSTECH, KIT (국립금오공과대학교), Korea Electric Power Corporation (한국전력공사), Chongbuk National University (충북대학교), Korea National University (국립군산대학교)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThese universities and research institutes serve as regional partners in the 2026 4-Pole Cooperation Regional Investment Roadshow (4극 협력 권역별 투자로드쇼). They help identify and recommend deep-tech companies in national strategic technology fields within their respective regions for participation in investment roadshows and fund matching sessions, creating a multi-regional open innovation ecosystem.
• Daegu Metropolitan City and Dalseo-gun (대구광역시 달성군)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINNOPOLIS Foundation and Daegu Metropolitan City/Dalseo-gun jointly operate the 2026 Dalrak Technology Commercialization Alliance Program (달성 기술사업화 얼라이언스 프로그램), using local public innovation resources to promote technology-based startups and new business activities in the region.
• DRB (Doosan Robotics/디알비)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRB operates the 2026 Daedeok Special Zone INNOPOLIS Campus DRB Open Innovation Program, recruiting 2 domestic and 2 global companies for technology validation (PoC) and investment review based on DRB's demand technology areas. DRB Vietnam is included in the global track, enabling international open innovation.
• Public Procurement Service (조달청)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINNOPOLIS Foundation recommends promising special zone companies to register on the Public Procurement Service's 'Venture Nara' (벤처나라) platform, enabling companies to access public procurement markets. Target companies include research institute companies, cutting-edge technology companies, and companies executing special zone cultivation or Science Belt support projects.
• JNP Global (제이엔피글로벌)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJNP Global manages recruitment for the 2026 Strategic Technology Deep-Tech Startup Promotion Program (전략기술 딥테크 창업 촉진), collecting applications from startup companies seeking to participate in this government-supported deep-tech entrepreneurship acceleration initiative.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub supporting high-impact startups through mentorship, capital access, and corporate partnerships. Comparable as an innovation cluster manager focused on deep-tech and science-based ventures with corporate open innovation and scale-up support programs.
• Innovation Quarter: Dutch regional innovation organization managing knowledge-intensive clusters in Leiden, The Hague, and Rotterdam with business support, capital access, and internationalization services. Comparable as a regional innovation cluster manager running facility-based programs for tech startups and scale-ups.
• Small Business Corporation (SBC) Korea: Korean government-affiliated corporation that operates startup incubation centers (Startup NEST), supports tech entrepreneurship, and runs programs such as the Startup School. Comparable as a Korean state-mandated startup support entity managing physical incubation facilities and commercialization programs.
• Korea Industrial Complex Corporation (KICOX): Government-affiliated corporation that manages Korea's industrial complexes and clusters. Comparable in operating designated industrial zones, providing infrastructure to tenant companies, and coordinating regional industrial development under state policy mandates.
• Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC): Korean government-backed technology financing institution that provides credit guarantees, technology valuation, and direct financing to tech SMEs. Comparable in deploying government capital to technology and innovation-focused companies within Korea's industrial policy framework.
• Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT): Government institute under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy that supports industrial technology development, global cooperation, and technology commercialization. Comparable in administering government R&D programs and supporting Korean companies' technology advancement.
• Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED): Government-affiliated Korean institute that runs startup incubation, TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startups), and entrepreneurship policy programs. Comparable mandate in fostering Korean startups and deep-tech ventures through government-funded programs and ecosystem coordination.
• Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME): Korean government agency under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups that provides comprehensive support to SMEs and startups including financing, market access, and global expansion. Highly comparable as a state-mandated innovation support organization with overlapping beneficiary base in Korean deep-tech and startup ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC): UK Research and Innovation body that operates national science facilities and supports commercialization of research outputs. Comparable as a government-backed entity translating public R&D investment into commercial innovation through dedicated programs and infrastructure.
• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's largest applied research organization operating 76 institutes with government-mandated mission to translate research into commercial applications. Comparable as a state-affiliated research-to-commercialization intermediary with regional institute network and industry partnership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmvByHA9aAFpzdNpqf7gYjw
• Facebookfacebook.com/withinnopolis
• Instagraminstagram.com/innopolis_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innopolis-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 INNOPOLIS Foundation