UNIST Holdings Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as UNIST Holdings), the university’s sole investment arm, held the launch ceremony for the UNIST Public Technology Commercialization Fund, worth 120 billion KRW, at UNIST on August 22, 2025.
The event was attended by UNIST President Chong Rae Park, Deputy Mayor Hyo Dae Ahn for Economic Affairs of Ulsan, Director Chul Jun Kim of Ulsan Business Promotion Institution (UBPI), Duksan Group Honorary Chairman Junho Lee, and President Tae-Han Kim of BNK Kyungnam Bank, alongside key regional corporate investors.
This fund exemplifies a collaborative model, led by S&T specialized universities, integrating regional capital and public resources to foster a thriving deep-tech startup ecosystem centered in Ulsan. Comprising 60 billion KRW from the government’s fund of funds (FoFs) and an equal amount from regional institutions and companies, the fund marks a strategic step toward regional innovation.
UNIST Holdings was selected as the exclusive General Partner (GP) of this fund—its first time managing, such a large-scale public technology commercialization initiative. The fund aims to support startups and researchers working together to commercialize public technologies, bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world applications.
Unlike traditional one-time investments, this fund adopts a ‘Follow-On’ strategy, providing continuous funding aligned with each growth stage of the startups, ensuring sustained support for promising ventures.
Ulsan City played a vital role in the fund’s formation, offering comprehensive support in attracting investments and coordinating administrative procedures. Regional corporate leaders also participated by contributing capital, establishing a collaborative foundation for building a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem that combines public resources and private enterprise.
President Park emphasized UNIST’s vision, saying “We aspire to transform UNIST into a national hub for innovation. From the Ulsan port to the far reaches of Eurasia, and across the Pacific to the Americas, we aim to forge a global network of technological advancement and entrepreneurial growth.” He added, “UNIST will continue to work hand-in-hand with the region to make Ulsan the beating heart of Korea’s technological innovation.”
Director Tae-kyu Han of UNIST Holdings, stated, “By connecting UNIST’s research strength with startups nationwide, we will revolutionize regional industries and create unprecedented success stories in local entrepreneurship—step by step, through strategic investment phases.”
This launch underscores UNIST’s commitment to building a comprehensive technology commercialization ecosystem, leveraging the university research capabilities to drive industry innovation. It is expected to serve as a nationwide model for nurturing public technology-based ventures and fostering sustainable startup growth across Korea.
