INHA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION

What INHA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION does

INHA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION (인하대학교 산학협력단) is the official industry-academia cooperation body of Inha University, established under Korea's Industrial Cooperation Promotion Act and headquartered at Inha University's campus in Incheon, South Korea. It functions as a designated non-profit intermediary that administers university R&D projects, manages intellectual property, and translates academic research outputs into commercial applications. The foundation operates a broad service portfolio including the Patent Mall and Tech Market online IP trading platforms, ESMK electronic technology introduction materials, the Startup Incubator and government-funded preliminary/early-stage startup packages (예비창업패키지, 초기창업패키지), the Family Company Program for affiliated firms, corporate consulting and corporate-linked student team projects, and the Standard Analysis Research Institute which houses advanced instruments such as Focused Ion Beam (introduced September 2023), Atomic Force Microscope (since 2006), Raman spectroscopy, HR-SEM, MP-XRD, TGA, and ICP-OES.

The foundation serves four principal segments: small and medium enterprises seeking technology development support and university collaboration; startups and pre-entrepreneurs accessing incubation and government programs; the Inha University research community requiring lab equipment and project administration; and family/affiliated companies in the university's network. Named affiliated companies include Limotem Co., Ltd. (precision measurement equipment) and ArkLink Co., Ltd. (bodycam phishing resolution and digital reputation services). Distribution channels are domestic-only and operate through direct service delivery, the self-serve Patent Mall platform, and government R&D program channels.

Revenue flows from four streams: (i) government R&D grants and subsidies administered across ministries including the Ministry of Trade/Industry and Energy, Ministry of Science and ICT, and Ministry of SMEs and Startups; (ii) fee-based corporate consulting and student team project services; (iii) technology transfer and patent licensing through Patent Mall; and (iv) paid analytical services at the Standard Analysis Research Institute. Public pricing is not disclosed; operational metrics such as student labor cost payment ratio (60.0% in 2025, down from 61.29% in 2024) are the only quantitative performance signals published.

Name

INHA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION

Legal name

인하대학교 산학협력단

Website

https://rnd.inha.ac.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Short description

INHA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION is the official industry-academia cooperation body of Inha University in Incheon, South Korea. It administers R&D projects, runs the Patent Mall IP marketplace, operates a startup incubator, and provides corporate consulting and analytical services to SMEs, startups, university researchers, and affiliated companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University-Industry Collaboration and Technology Commercialization Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH)

Keywords

• University research collaboration
• Technology commercialization services
• Patent licensing platform
• Startup incubation programs
• Industry academic cooperation

Headquarters

HQ city

Incheon

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

Revenue model

1. Government Research Grants and Subsidies: The foundation manages government-funded R&D programs including national research projects, student labor cost subsidies, and various ministry-sponsored research initiatives. Revenue is derived from government grants, ministry budgets, and public R&D funding.
2. Corporate Consulting and Support Services: Fee-based consulting services to enterprises including technology development support, corporate-linked student team projects, and business consulting. Companies pay for specialized research support and startup incubation services.
3. Technology Transfer and Patent Commercialization: Revenue from patent licensing, technology sales via Patent Mall platform, and IP management services for university research outcomes.
4. Standard Analysis and Testing Services: Paid analysis services using research equipment including FIB, AFM, Raman spectroscopy, HR-SEM, ICP-OES, PSA, MP-XRD, and TGA for external researchers and companies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

INHA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION (인하대학교 산학협력단) is a nonprofit university-industry collaboration organization that manages Inha University's industry-academic cooperation activities. It provides enterprise consulting for local SMEs, technology transfer services through the Patent Mall and Tech Market online IP/technology trading platforms, a Startup Incubator administering government preliminary/initial startup packages, and a Standard Analysis Research Institute offering fee-based characterization services using advanced equipment (FIB, AFM, Raman, HR-SEM, ICP-OES, PSA, MP-XRD, TGA). It also operates corporate-linked student team projects and a Family Company Program connecting university-affiliated companies with research resources.

Product overview

INHA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION (인하대학교 산학협력단) operates as a university-industry collaboration organization providing a comprehensive platform of research support and technology commercialization services. The core offerings include Patent Mall for intellectual property trading, Tech Market for technology marketplace, the Standard Analysis Research Institute with advanced analytical equipment, and the Startup Incubator supporting pre-startups and early-stage ventures. Supporting services include enterprise consulting, research paper databases, research manuals, data rooms, and student team project programs. The foundation also administers government-funded startup support programs including preliminary startup packages and initial startup packages, providing funding, mentorship, and MVP development resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Enterprise Consulting (기업 컨설팅)
• Corporate-Linked Student Team Projects (기업연계 학생팀프로젝트) A program that connects enterprises with Inha University students for collaborative team-based problem-solving projects on real business challenges. Targets Korean SMEs seeking talent collaboration.
• Patent Mall (특허몰) Online patent marketplace and intellectual property trading platform that enables technology transfer and commercialization of Inha University-developed patents. Targets enterprises and inventors seeking IP licensing transactions.
• Tech Market (테크마켓/기술장터) Online technology marketplace that lists university-developed technologies, prototypes, and IP for industry commercialization. Targets enterprises seeking ready-to-transfer technologies from Inha University researchers.
• Startup Incubator (창업보육센터) Startup incubation center providing workspace, mentorship, government-funded startup package administration, and growth support for pre-startups and early-stage ventures. Targets founders affiliated with Inha University.
• Standard Analysis Research Institute Services (표준분석연구소) Fee-based research institute providing standardized analytical and characterization services using advanced equipment including Focused Ion Beam (FIB), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, HR-SEM, ICP-OES, PSA, MP-XRD, and TGA. Serves external researchers, corporate R&D teams, and Inha University faculty.
• Pre-Startup Package (예비창업패키지) Government-funded (Ministry of SMEs and Startups) pre-startup support program providing funding, mentorship, and idea validation resources for prospective founders at the ideation stage.
• Initial Startup Package (초기창업패키지) Government-funded (Ministry of SMEs and Startups) early-stage startup support program providing funding, mentorship, and MVP/prototype development resources for Inha-affiliated startups within three years of founding.
• Family Company Program (가족회사 제도) Program for companies formally affiliated with Inha University providing access to university research resources, IP management support, networking with the family company chairman group (가족회사 회장단), and preferential collaboration opportunities.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Inha University (인하대학교)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation is the official industry-academia collaboration organization of Inha University. It serves as the administrative body managing all university research projects, technology transfer, patent management, and startup incubation activities under the university's umbrella.
• Korea Research Foundation (한국연구재단)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government research funding partner that provides national research grants and oversees university research programs that the foundation manages on behalf of Inha University researchers.
• Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (산업통상자원부)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry providing major R&D funding for industry-academia collaboration projects. The foundation coordinates ministry-sponsored research programs and technology development initiatives.
• Ministry of SMEs and Startups (중소벤처기업부)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry sponsoring the startup incubation programs (예비창업패키지, 초기창업패키지) that the foundation operates as a designated implementing organization for Inha University.
• Incheon TechnoPark (인천테크노파크)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional technology and innovation partner located in Incheon that collaborates on technology commercialization, startup support, and regional industry development initiatives.
• Incheon Creative Economy Innovation Center (인천창조경제혁신센터)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner supporting startup globalization programs including the BiiG WAVE Global Singapore program for startups seeking entry into Singapore and ASEAN markets.
• Korea Technology Finance Corporation (한국기술거래소)supportingTechnology or IntegrationNational technology trading exchange platform supporting IP and technology transaction services that complement the foundation's Patent Mall operations.
• Korea Institute of Startup & Venture Business (창업진흥원)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency overseeing startup support programs that provides frameworks and funding for the startup incubation programs administered by the foundation.
• Korea Young Entrepreneurs Foundation (한국청년기업가정신재단)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization running the K-Global startup mentoring program that the foundation promotes and connects its startup community to.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Korea University Technology Holdings: Korea University's industry-academic collaboration entity offering research administration, IP licensing, and startup incubation. Comparable mission, customer base, and revenue mix to Inha's foundation.
• UNIST Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: UNIST's research university foundation operating a startup-focused tech transfer and incubation model. Targets the same early-stage Korean deep-tech venture pipeline as Inha's family-company and incubator programs.
• Hanyang University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation: Hanyang University's engineering- and industry-focused cooperation foundation with overlapping services (corporate consulting, R&D project management, tech licensing). Direct competitor for Seoul-metro SME deals.
• Seoul National University Industry-Academic Collaboration Foundation: Korea's flagship state research university's industry-academic cooperation foundation. Operates the same model (government R&D administration, corporate consulting, patent licensing, startup incubation) at much larger scale, making it the most direct comparable to Inha's foundation.
• KAIST Industry-Academic Collaboration Foundation: KAIST's tech-transfer and industry collaboration arm, focused on deep-tech commercialization. Competes with Inha's foundation for the same ministry-funded R&D projects, corporate sponsors, and high-tech startup dealflow.
• POSTECH Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: POSTECH's private research university foundation, widely regarded as Korea's strongest commercialization university. Directly comparable service mix (Patent Mall equivalent, incubator, corporate consulting) with stronger IP track record.
• Yonsei University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation: Yonsei's research foundation offering parallel services (consulting, tech transfer, incubator). Competes for the same SME corporate clients and government programs in the Seoul/Gyeonggi region.

Others

• Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC): National technology trading/IP transaction platform that complements the foundation's Patent Mall operations. Operates an adjacent marketplace for university-origin technologies and provides IP valuation services.
• Korea Institute of Startup & Venture Business (KISED): National startup policy and program agency. Sets frameworks and funding mechanisms for the 예비창업패키지 and 초기창업패키지 programs that the foundation administers. Ecosystem-level enabler rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Incheon TechnoPark: Regional innovation cluster organization located in Incheon that collaborates with the foundation on technology commercialization and startup support. Overlapping regional mandate and shared SME/startup clientele.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inha-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 INHA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION