On September 4, UNIST Office of University-Industry Relations and Ulsan Ulju InnoTown jointly hosted the 4th Industry-Academic Convergence Forum at the University-Industry Cooperation Building. The event centered on ‘Deep Tech Startups‘ and aimed to foster knowledge sharing among regional entrepreneurs and expand the local startup ecosystem.
The forum provided a platform for innovative companies nurtured within the Ulsan Ulju InnoTown to exchange strategies and experiences, while also strengthening the regional startup network. Attendees included university-affiliated startup founders, industry partners, and representatives from high-potential technology zones.
The event was attended by 80 representatives from companies within the Ulsan Ulju InnoTown and related organizations. Prominent speakers included CEO Myunghee Lee of Sapien Semiconductors Inc., CEO Jingook Kim of EM Coretech Inc., and CEO Gun-Ho Kim of RecensMedical Inc., all of whom are key representatives of UNIST faculty-founded startups.
President Hyo Sang Yoo of Unicorn Business Economic Research Institute delivered a keynote address on ‘Navigating the Path of Tech Startup Growth.’
The event kicked off with a keynote speech by President Hyo Sang Yoo of Unicorn Business Economic Research Institute. He outlined the typical growth stages of tech startups, highlighting key challenges at each phase. He also discussed crucial factors for successful exits, comparing global unicorn case studies with Korea-specific success conditions, and offered practical implementation models for startup founders.
CEO Myunghee Lee of Sapien Semiconductors Inc. is presenting entrepreneurial success stories and innovation strategies.
Following the keynote, startup CEOs shared their journeys and visions for future growth. CEO Myunghee Lee highlighted the latest innovations in next-generation display driving technologies and strategies to strengthen semiconductor competitiveness. CEO Jingook Kim shared insights into the rapid growth of educational startups, emphasizing the potential for expanding education-based entrepreneurship. CEO Gun-Ho Kim presented advances in medical device development using rapid precision cooling technology, showcasing clinical results and discussing opportunities for overseas expansion in the biotech and healthcare sectors.
After the presentations, participating companies discussed their growth roadmaps and successful commercialization experiences. The session also explored new avenues for collaboration, joint development, and mentorship among startups.
The forum’s theme— from inception to success—reflected a continuous cycle of sharing experiences and shaping the future of regional startup ecosystems. The event concluded with a strong emphasis on strengthening industry-academic ties and fostering sustainable growth in deep tech sectors.
President Chong Rae Park is delivering a welcome remark at the forum.
President Park expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “This forum allowed us to expand connections among high-potential companies in the InnoTown zone and explore new directions for startup development. As a university dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurship, UNIST will continue to play a pivotal role as a regional hub for deep tech startups and innovation.”
