Mokpo National University Achieves 3rd Place in Startup Performance at '2023 Korea Excellent Startup Universities'

Recognition of Support for Student Entrepreneurs... Startup Infrastructure, Startup Support, Startup Outcomes

National Mokpo University (President Song Ha-cheol) 3rd Phase Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Leading University Development Project Group (hereinafter LINC 3.0 Project Group) recently ranked 3rd in the startup performance category of the ‘2023 Korea Excellent Startup Universities’.

According to Mokpo University on the 29th, the Korea Business Incubation Association selects excellent startup universities in Korea by evaluating a total of 3 categories: ‘startup infrastructure, startup support, and startup performance’ for 247 general universities and 170 vocational colleges.

National Mokpo University stood out in the ‘startup performance category (out of 45 points),’ which is evaluated based on student startups and faculty startups. The 1st place went to Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 2nd to Sungkyunkwan University, followed by National Mokpo University in 3rd place.

National Mokpo University Campus View

The LINC 3.0 Project Group, which laid the foundation for these achievements, provides systematic support for student startups through diagnosis and prescription using startup MRI, support for related curricular and extracurricular programs, prototype production through startup clubs and incubating, and nurturing global sellers. They have supported 13 student startups and 1 faculty startup in 2022, and 18 student startups as of November 2023.

Song Ha-cheol, President of National Mokpo University, stated, “We will strive to discover and support excellent entrepreneurs and build infrastructure,” adding, “In particular, we will focus institutional efforts on creating a startup ecosystem within the university by arranging entrepreneurship as a required liberal arts course and establishing a startup-friendly academic system.”

Lee Sang-chan, head of the LINC 3.0 Project Group in charge of on-campus startup education, said, “We are also working hard to build networks and expand infrastructure through the regional startup support institution council, and support ‘startup performance’ in various ways, such as operating the ‘Nuguna Store,’ a space for exhibiting and selling prototypes by startup club students, together with Muan County.” He added, “In 2024, student entrepreneurs are planning local startups in Mokpo and Muan, so we aim to prepare more diverse support measures.”

National Mokpo University is focusing on establishing a startup-friendly academic system, starting with a startup leave of absence system, arranging entrepreneurship as a required liberal arts course, operating a microdegree program for nurturing local creators, and running courses for nurturing global sellers linked with Jeollanam-do.

In particular, through cooperation with local government agencies, operation of a startup mini-cluster, and startup forums, the university is supporting a full-cycle program from startup education to post-startup commercialization support, aiming to strengthen the foundation for local and digital startups.

The Startup Growth Support Department of the LINC 3.0 Project Group has about 200 members active in 35 startup clubs on campus, with 13 to 18 student entrepreneurs emerging annually. In 2024, they plan to focus on nurturing local entrepreneurs through the operation of the ‘Nuguna Store’ and laying the groundwork for digital startups, and will hold a startup club competition and performance exhibition in February.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.