A research team led by Prof. Kim Jae-ho of Ajou University was selected to take part in the R&D to Promote Utilization of Public Research Results Project to assist the accelerated commercialization of source and basic technologies.

The Korean Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Commercialization Promotion Agency for R&D Outcomes selected an intermediary research group in each of the five technology fields and launched its R&D to Promote Utilization of Public Research Results Project. The selected intermediary research group will receive a total of KRW 8.4 billion from the government R&D budget over the next three years.

The MSIT supports intermediary research that advances the technical readiness level (TRL) in line with corporate demand to quickly put into practical use the excellent source and basic technologies possessed by universities or research institutes. Through this support project, the goal is to upgrade the source technology owned by public institutions with technology maturity levels 1 - 2 to technology maturity levels 6 – 7 where prototypes are manufactured and certified.

The Intermediary Research Group on Nanotechnology-based Bio/Electronic Components Materials from Ajou University will participate in this project. Prof. Kim Jae-ho (Department of Applied Chemistry and Biological Engineering, Graduate School Department of Molecular Science and Technology) will lead the Group, which aims to commercialize six bio/electronic component materials based on nanoparticle in-plane alignment and patterning technology.

Ajou University’s Technology Licensing Office (TLO) will also participate in the project to support the four specific tasks and commercialization of the school’s Intermediary Research Group. Products to be commercialized included in the research group's four specific tasks are Micro LED bonding and inspection material (Kim Jae-ho, Ajou University Department of Molecular Science and Technology); Food harmful bacteria on onsite diagnostic equipment (Yoon Hyun-cheol, Ajou University Department of Molecular Science and Technology); Efficacy evaluation of hair loss relief and haircare products organoids (Seong Yeong-gwan, Kyungpook National University Medical School); and a Culture of induced pluripotent stem cells for drug screening (Jeong Yeong-seok, Pusan National University College of Pharmacy).

In addition to taking part in the MSIT Project, the Intermediary Research Group agreed to transfer the technology that will be developed through this project to a pre-determined company that has demand for the technology. Accordingly, an advanced technology fee of KRW 3 billion and a current technology fee based on the sales of developed products are separately contracted, which is expected to contribute significantly to enhancement of the school's research and technology commercialization capabilities.

Along with the school’s Intermediary Research Group on Nanotechnology-based Bio/Electronic Components Materials, the Intermediary Research Group on Microalgae Cell Factory (Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology), the Intermediary Research Group on Semiconductor Analog Batch Design Automation (Pohang University of Science and Technology), the Intermediary Research Group on Green Hydrogen Production (Korea Institute of Energy Research), and the Intermediary Research Group on Diagnosis-Treatment Technology Convergence Commercialization (Chonnam National University) will take part in the R&D to Promote Utilization of Public Research Results Project.