The Kookmin University (President Jung Seung-ryul) Industry-Academia Cooperation Center, in collaboration with the Sookmyung Women's University-Sogang University Industry-Academia Cooperation Center and Kookmin University Technology Holdings Co.

At the formation meeting, all members attended, and Seo Jun-kyung, head of the Industry-Academia Cooperation Team, served as the temporary chairperson, and deliberated and resolved the union agreement (draft), business plan (draft), and operation of the investment decision-making organization (draft). The 'Seoul Campus Town University Startup Private Investment Union' is a university startup fund with a total of 7 billion won, which is jointly created by Kookmin University Technology Holdings (CEO Lee In-hyung), Sookmyung Women's University Technology Holdings (CEO Shin Ji-young), and Sogang University Technology Holdings (CEO Koo Myung-wan), a limited partner (LP), to solve the initial funding difficulties of startups in universities. It will be operated for five years, including the investment period, and is expected to play a role in creating a startup ecosystem in Seoul Campus Town by investing in technology commercialization such as patent verification and prototype development of faculty and student startups.

In particular, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will work with universities and autonomous districts to support the dreams of young entrepreneurs through various entrepreneurship programs by university and pursue regional win-win in conjunction with Seoul Campus Town, which will focus on supporting early-stage startups in high value-added fields such as deep tech (AI, robotics, bio, etc.) and cultural contents that utilize human resources and technologies possessed by universities, including university (graduate) students, international students, professors, and researchers. “The formation of the fund is significant in that it is a voluntary effort by universities in Seoul to break down barriers and share and collaborate for consumer-centered university innovation,” said Lee In-hyung, head of the Campus Town Business Unit at Kookmin University. ”We hope that more universities in Seoul will participate and invest in the fund in the future.”

Shin Ji-young, head of Sookmyung Women's University's Industry-Academia Cooperation Center (representative of Sookmyung Women's University Technology Holdings), also said, “The establishment of the fund will enable seed investment in promising startups discovered and nurtured in Seoul Campus Town.” “We will do our best to enhance the survival and growth potential of early-stage startups by strengthening follow-up management and support for them and linking them with follow-up investments.” An official from the Seoul University Cooperation Division also said, “We hope that the formation of a voluntary investment association among participating universities in Seoul Campus Town will lead to the growth of young entrepreneurs and early-stage startups and serve as a new opportunity to promote a virtuous cycle in Seoul's startup ecosystem.”

Meanwhile, at the founding general meeting, Lee In-hyung, Director of Industry-University Cooperation at Kookmin University, Seo Jun-kyung, Head of Industry-University Cooperation Team, Lee Young-oh, Investment Review Officer at Kookmin University Technology Holdings, Nam Seung-mi, Director of Campus Town, Shin Ji-young, Director of Industry-University Cooperation at Sookmyung Women's University, Kang Ji-hyun, Team Leader of Technology Commercialization Center, Ko Myeong-joo, Manager of Sookmyung Women's University Technology Holdings, and Jeon Hye-yeon, Director of Sogang University Technology Holdings, shared in-depth opinions on how to activate Seoul Campus Town as a hub for university startups.