Colleges are shifting their focus from merely increasing the number of technology transfers to enhancing the quality of these transfers. Notably, community colleges have seen a nearly 30% drop in the number of technology transfers, yet their total revenue from these transfers has increased by over 20%, indicating a move away from quantity-driven metrics toward qualitative growth.
On June 29, the Education Ministry and the Korean Council for University Education released the "June 2026 Analysis of University Information Disclosure." According to the report, the 125 community colleges across the country recorded a total of 75 technology transfers in 2025, a significant decrease of 29.2% from the previous year’s 106 transfers.
However, the qualitative metric of revenue showed a sharp increase. The revenue from technology transfers at community colleges reached 343 million won in 2025, up 20.4% from 285 million won the previous year. The average revenue per technology transfer at these colleges rose dramatically to 4.57 million won, a 69.9% increase from 2.69 million won in 2024.
On June 29, the Education Ministry and the Korean Council for University Education released the "June 2026 Analysis of University Information Disclosure." According to the report, the 125 community colleges across the country recorded a total of 75 technology transfers in 2025, a significant decrease of 29.2% from the previous year’s 106 transfers.
However, the qualitative metric of revenue showed a sharp increase. The revenue from technology transfers at community colleges reached 343 million won in 2025, up 20.4% from 285 million won the previous year. The average revenue per technology transfer at these colleges rose dramatically to 4.57 million won, a 69.9% increase from 2.69 million won in 2024.
Similarly, 192 four-year universities and colleges are also pursuing quality over quantity. In 2025, these institutions recorded 4,669 technology transfers, a 16.3% decrease from 5,575 in the previous year, with total revenue dropping by 15.2% to 100.37 billion won.
Despite the decline in the number of transfers, the average revenue per transfer increased slightly to 21.5 million won, up 1.3% from 21.22 million won the previous year, indicating a rise in the value of technology transfers.
Despite the decline in the number of transfers, the average revenue per transfer increased slightly to 21.5 million won, up 1.3% from 21.22 million won the previous year, indicating a rise in the value of technology transfers.
These changes in metrics reflect a shift in the paradigm of industry-academia cooperation, moving from merely achieving superficial indicators to creating substantial added value. In the past, many universities artificially inflated the number of low-value technology transfers to gain favorable evaluations in government financial support assessments.
However, facing financial constraints due to over a decade of frozen tuition fees and a sharp decline in the school-age population, institutions have begun to focus on transferring core technologies that generate revenue, according to education experts.
The positive shift in metrics among community colleges, closely tied to local industries, is particularly encouraging. By concentrating on practical research that addresses the technological challenges of small and medium-sized enterprises, these colleges are demonstrating that, despite a decrease in the number of contracts, the actual commercialization value of their technologies is being properly recognized in the industry.
The pragmatic approach of universities is also evident in the rise of student startups and contract programs. Despite economic downturns and a challenging job market, the number of new student startups at community colleges surged by 27.2% to 276 in 2025. Similarly, four-year universities saw a 10.1% increase in student startups, totaling 1,998, reinforcing the strength of the entrepreneurial ecosystem on campuses.
Moreover, a clear trend toward practicality is emerging in the operation of industry-customized contract programs. At four-year universities, the number of "employment conditional" contract programs, which guarantee employment, dropped by 13.2% to 33, while the more flexible "hybrid" contract programs, which confirm employment after course completion, increased by 47.4% to 56. This suggests that both students and companies prefer a pragmatic approach that allows for mutual verification through education rather than rigid guarantees.
As universities move away from quantity-focused illusions and engage in voluntary improvements, there are growing calls for government policies to adapt accordingly. A representative from an industry-academia cooperation office at a university in the metropolitan area emphasized, "As universities achieve meaningful improvements through their own innovations, it is time for the government to shift its evaluation and financial support criteria from past quantitative metrics to actively favoring technology commercialization and qualitative outcomes."
However, facing financial constraints due to over a decade of frozen tuition fees and a sharp decline in the school-age population, institutions have begun to focus on transferring core technologies that generate revenue, according to education experts.
The positive shift in metrics among community colleges, closely tied to local industries, is particularly encouraging. By concentrating on practical research that addresses the technological challenges of small and medium-sized enterprises, these colleges are demonstrating that, despite a decrease in the number of contracts, the actual commercialization value of their technologies is being properly recognized in the industry.
The pragmatic approach of universities is also evident in the rise of student startups and contract programs. Despite economic downturns and a challenging job market, the number of new student startups at community colleges surged by 27.2% to 276 in 2025. Similarly, four-year universities saw a 10.1% increase in student startups, totaling 1,998, reinforcing the strength of the entrepreneurial ecosystem on campuses.
Moreover, a clear trend toward practicality is emerging in the operation of industry-customized contract programs. At four-year universities, the number of "employment conditional" contract programs, which guarantee employment, dropped by 13.2% to 33, while the more flexible "hybrid" contract programs, which confirm employment after course completion, increased by 47.4% to 56. This suggests that both students and companies prefer a pragmatic approach that allows for mutual verification through education rather than rigid guarantees.
As universities move away from quantity-focused illusions and engage in voluntary improvements, there are growing calls for government policies to adapt accordingly. A representative from an industry-academia cooperation office at a university in the metropolitan area emphasized, "As universities achieve meaningful improvements through their own innovations, it is time for the government to shift its evaluation and financial support criteria from past quantitative metrics to actively favoring technology commercialization and qualitative outcomes."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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