Hanyang University Recruiting Companies for 2026 Startup-Centered University Program

Up to 150 Million Won in Funding for Selected Companies

Hanyang University announced on March 18 that, as the lead institution for the "2026 Startup-Centered University" project organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, it will be recruiting "2026 Startup-Centered University (Preliminary) Startup Companies" in order to vitalize the local startup ecosystem and support the growth of promising startups.

Hanyang University '2026 Startup-Centered University' (Preliminary) Startup Company Recruitment Poster. Hanyang University

This recruitment aims to discover and nurture entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas by utilizing Hanyang University's infrastructure and network. Eligible applicants include both prospective entrepreneurs and startup companies with less than seven years of business history. The recruitment scale is approximately 68 companies in total: 20 under the "University-Originated" category and 48 under the "Region-Based" category.

In particular, for the region-based category, more than 60% of selected companies will be led by young entrepreneurs aged 39 or younger, with the aim of fostering a youth startup ecosystem. Selected companies will receive up to 150 million won (an average of 70 million won) in business development funds for the university-originated category, and up to 100 million won (an average of 50 million won) for the region-based category.

Additionally, this year Hanyang University will focus on nurturing startups in four strategic technology sectors: artificial intelligence (AI), bio, secondary batteries, and intelligent robotics. Selected companies will have access to specialized scaling-up programs, including opportunities for investment attraction, open innovation, and global acceleration.

Alongside this, a "Lab-Specialized" startup recruitment program will also be conducted as a joint initiative with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Science and ICT, targeting companies based on promising technologies developed in university laboratories. Around 10 companies will be selected separately, each receiving an average of 77 million won and up to 150 million won in business development funds, as well as customized growth programs.

Ryu Changwan, Head of the Startup Support Group at Hanyang University, stated, "In addition to step-by-step investment attraction and open innovation, we will actively support the scaling up of startups through joint programs with local accelerators in major startup hubs in the Americas, Europe, and Asia."

Applications will be accepted online through the K-Startup website until 4 p.m. on March 23.

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