[Short News] UNIST Leads the World in the Next-generation S&T ‧ Startups!

《Editor’s Note: UNIST has attracted much attention recently, as its name was mentioned on Korean media through the inspiring stories of its students and faculty. From appointments as new member of Y-KAST to the winning of the ASEAN-Korea Startup IR Pitching … here is a brief summary of those inspiring stories.》

■ Two UNIST Professors Named Newest Members of Y-KAST

Professor Hoi Ri Moon has been named the newest members of Y-KAST. l Image Credit: Ahn Hong Bum

Two UNIST faculty members, Professor Hoi Ri Moon (School of Natural Sciences) and Professor Jeong Min Baik (School of Materials Science and Engineering) have recently been named the newest members of 2020 Young Korean Academy of Science and Technology (Y-KAST).

Each year, the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) selects 26 young scientists who are expected to play a leading role in the next-generation research, and appointed them as a new member of the Y-KAST. Professor Moon, who has done pioneering research on inorganic chemistry, became the Y-KAST member in the natural sciences sector. Professor Kim, who has been carrying out innovative research in the field of triboelectric generators, became the Y-KAST member in the engineering sector.

Meanwhile, the Y-KAST recognizes promising Korean scientists who are aged 43 or less and provide support for them. As part of an effort to do so, it not only helps its members to engage in a variety of exchange activities with other young members of overseas academic institutes, but provides an opportunity to exchange multidisciplinary research results among scholars at home and abroad. This year, they have appointed 26 young scientists who are expected to play a leading role in the next-generation research.

Professor Jeong Min Baik has been named the newest members of Y-KAST. l Image Credit: SeoYeon Lee, Aza Studio

In January, for the first time, a professor from UNIST was named the newest members of Y-KAST. Professor Sang Hoon Joo who is a promising researcher in the field of high-performance electrochemical catalysts became the Y-KAST member in the engineering sector.

■ Professor Chakyu Kim Win the ASEAN-Korea Startup IR Pitching!

Fusion Biotech Co., Ltd., a startup company, led by Professor Chakyu Kim in the School of Life Sciences at UNIST have been recognized for research excellence at the ‘2019 ASEAN-Republic of Korea Startup IR Pitching’. This demonstrates his challenge based on next-generation biotechnology has been acknowledged.

The pitching competition was held, as part of the ‘ASEAN-ROK Startup EXPO, ComeUp 2019′, held in BEXCO, Busan Exhibition Center, from November 25th-26th 2019. It was an additional event of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit, gathering all founding companies from the relevant countries participated. Organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, this event has been participated by a total of 20 startups participated in the competition, 10 teams per day. Fusion Biotech pitched in with startups from Cambodia, Indonesia, Brunei, Laos and Malaysia on Monday, November 25, 2019.

Professor Chakyu Kim in the School of Life Sciences at UNIST has won the ‘2019 ASEAN-Republic of Korea Startup IR Pitching’.

Established in September 2018, Fusion Biotech Co., Ltd., has been working on the development of biopharmaceuticals based on fusion proteins applicable to anticancer drugs and senile diseases. Professor Kim has also been selected as the world’s most influential 1% researcher (HCR) in 2018, thus recognized for his outstanding research. This achievement is expected to serve a stepping stone for greater leaps for both Fusion Biotech Co., Ltd. and Professor Kim.

■ Three UNIST Students Received Excellence Award at the 2019 Undergraduate Biological Classification Research Contest!

Three student interns from a research lab, led by Professor Kyung Hwa Cho in the School of Urban and Environmental Engineering at UNIST have recently been recognized for research excellence at the ‘2019 Undergraduate Biological Classification Research Contest.’

The names of the recipients are NaKyeong Yun (School of Energy and Chemical Engineering), Da Eun Yun (School of Urban and Environmental Engineering), and SeokMin Hong (School of Urban and Environmental Engineering).

From right are NaKyeong Yun (School of Energy and Chemical Engineering), Da Eun Yun (School of Urban and Environmental Engineering), and SeokMin Hong (School of Urban and Environmental Engineering).

The competition, which was held for two months from August to October at the National Institute of Biological Resources under the Ministry of Environment, has evaluated undergraduate-level research works related to the classification of native organisms in Korea. In the competition, 10 teams were selected: 1 First Prize, 1 Grand Prize, 2 Excellet Prize, and 6 Special Prizes. The awards presentation ceremony was held on Friday, November 22, 2019.