UNIST Holdings Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as UNIST Holdings) has been selected as a new operator for the 2025 TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startup), a technology startup support program, initiated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) of Korea to promote private investments on startups.
With this selection, Ulsan has produced its second TIPS operator, marking an important milestone in expanding and diversifying the region’s deep tech startup ecosystem. TIPS is a public–private partnership initiative in which private operators discover and recommend promising startups, while the government provides matching R&D and commercialization funding.
Since 2017, UNIST has been working closely with private TIPS operators on campus, resulting in 33 UNIST-based startups being selected for TIPS support. Building on this experience, UNIST has been designated as the only ‘Deep Tech Specialized Startup-Centric University Pilot Program (name tentative)‘ by MSS, solidifying its role as a leading hub for technology-driven entrepreneurship.
UNIST Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of UNIST established in 2017, has been accelerating the commercialization of research outcomes through various channels, including technology transfer and venture investment. As a newly appointed TIPS operator, the company will activate the ‘UNIST-Based Deep Tech Startup Platform,’ seamlessly linking the university, its technology holdings, and private investors to foster next-generation deep tech ventures.
Tae-kyu Han, Director of UNIST Holdings, who previously supported over 20 companies in securing TIPS selection, joined the company earlier this year. He emphasized, “Following our recent designation as the sole operator of a KRW 12 billion public technology commercialization fund, earning TIPS operator status further strengthens our capacity to lead Ulsan’s startup ecosystem. We look forward to driving regional innovation centered around UNIST.”
UNIST President Chong Rae Park stated, “This achievement positions UNIST as a national hub for technology entrepreneurship,” adding, “We will continue to advance Ulsan as a leading center of Korea’s technological innovation by promoting a full-cycle startup model driven by the university, UNIST Holdings, and its Office of University Industry Relations.”
