Mobility One participates in the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Open Innovation R&D Center (OIRC) program.

[Digital Today, Reporter Daegun Seok] The Ministry of Science and ICT has selected five Open Innovation R&D Centers (OIRC), which will host startups within university research institutes to carry out joint research and development, and has officially launched the initiative.

On August 28, First Vice Minister Hyukchae Koo of the Ministry of Science and ICT attended the OIRC Launching Day event held at Korea University.

During the event, participants discussed strategies to maximize the outcomes of the newly launched university research institute–startup joint innovation R&D support program. More than 50 stakeholders, including researchers from the five selected research teams and representatives from participating startups, were present.

The Open Innovation R&D Center (OIRC) serves as a hub for close-knit industry–academia collaboration, where startups are embedded within university research institutes specializing in national strategic technologies. Among 32 research teams that applied in key national strategic areas such as AI, advanced biotechnology, and quantum, five were selected to receive four years of support.

The five selected centers are: the Human-Inspired AI Research Institute at Korea University (AI), the POSTECH–Catholic University Institute of Biomedical Engineering (advanced biotechnology), the AI & Safety Robot (Googi) Innovation Research Center at Dongguk University (advanced robotics and manufacturing), the Wonju Hearing Rehabilitation Research Institute at Yonsei University (advanced biotechnology), and the IT Convergence Research Institute at KAIST (semiconductors and displays). More than 20 startups—including AmunLink, DeepXR Lab, Celloid, Mobility One, Digital Labs, Panesia, and Rebellions—are participating in these centers.

University research institutes will leverage their research facilities, equipment, and personnel to collaborate with early-stage deep-tech startups in the same space, thereby producing R&D outcomes. Participating startups will enhance their technological maturity through joint R&D, simultaneously driving the industrial application of public research outputs and fostering startup growth. At the launch event, each university research institute shared its vision and implementation plans in collaboration with startups.

A subsequent roundtable brought together about ten stakeholders, including university research directors and startup CEOs. The session featured presentations from researchers and entrepreneurs, and discussions covered policy directions to activate the industry–academia cooperation ecosystem, measures to expand public research outcomes, support for startup growth, as well as on-the-ground policy suggestions and challenges. Opinions were also gathered on strategies to attract and retain talent within universities and startups.

Hyukchae Koo, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “We will build a sustainable industry–academia cooperation system to strengthen competitiveness in national strategic technologies and establish a virtuous cycle that enables the joint growth of universities and startups.” This site visit marked the fourth field engagement under Vice Minister Koo’s “Project Empathy 118,” reflecting his commitment to engaging with scientists and engineers across various ages, fields, and regions—as diverse as the 118 elements of the periodic table.

Source: DigitalToday https://www.digitaltoday.co.kr