Min-uk Kang, Team Leader of the Startup Support Team at UNIST, has been honored with the a commendation from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) for his contributions to advancing technology-based entrepreneurship and strengthening the university startup ecosystem. The award was presented on December 12, 2025.
The commendation recognizes Kang’s role in building practical support systems that connect public research outcomes with startup creation and early market validation.
Kang oversees startup support programs for faculty members, researchers, and students, operating a full-cycle framework designed to help research-based technologies progress toward commercialization. He has led multiple government-supported entrepreneurship initiatives and helped secure funding for early-stage startups, including KRW 800 million in support for 10 on-campus companies through a deep-tech entrepreneurship university program.
He has also contributed to expanding private funding for startups, including a KRW 1 billion donation agreement signed earlier this year to support talent development and early-stage ventures.
Director Youngsik Kim of the UNIST Office of University–Industry Cooperation, said the award recognizes “[S]teady, on-the-ground efforts to link institutional systems with practical startup support.”
Kang said he will continue working to help researchers connect their technologies with real-world markets.
