Professor Jihoon Kang of Chonnam National University Receives Minister of SMEs and Startups Award

Contribution to Revitalizing Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration

Professor Jihoon Kang, Chonnam National University.

Chonnam National University announced on the 29th that Professor Jihoon Kang has received the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award in recognition of his contributions to revitalizing industry-academia-research collaboration.

Professor Jihoon Kang, as the head of the Yeosu Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation and the director of the Jeonnam RISE Project Group at Chonnam National University, planned and oversaw five core areas and ten unit projects (with a total project budget of 23.5 billion won) based on the needs of local companies.

He was highly praised for successfully establishing a regional industry-academia-research consortium in which universities, companies, research institutes, and local governments participated organically, thereby creating a virtuous cycle where university research outcomes drive regional industrial growth, which in turn feeds back into the university.

In addition, as the head of the Center for SME-Industry-Academia Cooperation, he has taken the lead in building a close, mutually beneficial cooperation system with companies located in Yeosu and Jeollanam-do. By designing and operating an industry-academia cooperation platform for mutual growth optimized for regional specialized industries such as fisheries and marine, petrochemicals, blue food, and digital/AI, he has led customized technical support and problem-solving for over 170 small and medium-sized enterprises annually, which was also a key factor in this award.

Furthermore, by directly founding and operating the medical imaging technology-based startup K-RGIO, he has addressed the structural challenges faced by SMEs and venture companies in technology verification, prototype production, regulatory approval, and investment linkage during technology development and commercialization. He has reflected these on-site business challenges in the design of the Jeonnam RISE Project and the industry-academia cooperation platform for mutual growth, laying the foundation for an effective support ecosystem that connects 'research, commercialization, and market,' according to evaluations.

Regarding the award, Professor Jihoon Kang stated, "As a key institution for regional innovation, Chonnam National University will do its utmost to create a sustainable industry-academia cooperation ecosystem in which companies and the region grow together through technological advancement and talent development in regional specialized industries."

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