University of Science and Technology (UST) appointed its first special faculty members in entrepreneurship to strengthen support for deep-tech student startups.
UST said it appointed Choi Chi-ho, head of Korea Science and Technology Holdings (KST), and Kim Cheol-hwan, chair of the Kite Entrepreneur Foundation, as special faculty members in entrepreneurship, and will work to boost student startups based on national research institute technologies.
The two special faculty members appointed this time are experts who have built experience in science and technology-based entrepreneurship and investment, and in commercializing public research results. They will take part across UST's startup track operations and student startup support processes.
Choi has worked in the commercialization of public research and development (R&D) results and in building the deep-tech ecosystem. After earning a doctorate in law from Soongsil University, Choi served as head of technology business at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), head of the Seoul Hongneung specialized zone project, and president of the Korea Association of Research Institute Technology Transfer. Choi now leads Korea Science and Technology Holdings, jointly funded by 17 Government-funded research institute(s), overseeing the discovery of source technologies at the institutes and supporting technology startups.
Kim is a technology entrepreneur with a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from KAIST. After founding Image and Materials in 2006, Kim sold it to LG Display for about 30 billion won, and in 2012 committed personal funds to establish the private, nonprofit angel investment foundation Kite Entrepreneur Foundation. Since then, Kim has provided investment and mentoring to more than 80 early-stage deep-tech startups.
The two special faculty members will serve three-year terms starting June 1. They will participate in planning and operating UST's Start-up Track, setting and reviewing student selection criteria, guiding the entrepreneurship curriculum, linking external experts, mentoring students, and supporting commercialization.
UST's startup track under way is a program that helps students preparing to start businesses based on national research institute technologies pursue their studies while preparing for startups. It operates in two formats: the "transition type" for current students who wish to start businesses, and the "master type," that is, a master's program specializing in entrepreneurship that separately selects students with startup intent from the admissions stage.
UST President Kang Dae-im said, "We will strengthen the support system by linking the special faculty members' startup experience and expertise with UST's education system so that the research achievements of the national research institute schools can lead to technology startups."