Ajou is selected as an operator of the Technology Development Project through Cooperation among Industry, Academia, and Research Institutes

2016-01-15

Ajou University was selected as an operator of the "2016 Technology Development Project through Cooperation among Industry, Academia, and Research Institutes," which is being carried out by the Small and Medium Business Administration and the Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs.

The Project aims to encourage the operators – universities and research institutes – to cooperate with Small and Mid-sized Enterprises (SMEs), which are weak in technological expertise, to transfer their R&D-related technologies and improve the SMEs' technological innovation capabilities by jointly developing technologies.

Ajou was selected as a Project operator because of the positive evaluation of the customized R&D infrastructure that it has built to meet corporate demands. The University plans to have its Industry-Academia Cooperation Center for SMEs under the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation take charge of the Project, with the Technology Transfer Center, the Corporate Support Center, and the Business Incubation Center also participating. By doing so, it intends to establish a system that can create synergy in developing a number of major technologies and fostering technological commercialization via cooperation among industry, academia, and research institutes. In addition, the latest selection will be an opportunity to make sustainable achievements in connection with the LINC Project.

This year, the University is set to receive a total of about 800 million won and carry out two assignments under the 'First Step Tasks,' which is the category for companies participating in national R&D projects for the first time, and another six assignments under the 'Take-off Tasks' for those with stagnant technological capabilities regardless of their history in national R&D projects.

Director Joong Soon Jang of the Industry-Academia Cooperation Center for SMEs (Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering) said, "The University's selection for the Project has expanded the foundation for the joint development of innovative technologies and their commercialization, which will help establish win-win relationships with local industries," adding, "We will make great contributions to the growth of the local economy by reinforcing collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutes."