Local governments' restrictive policies that confine businesses within their jurisdictions can be detrimental, potentially suffocating companies. Talent is drawn not by local conditions but by growth opportunities. A shift from a welfare-based approach to an economic-centric model that fosters innovative ecosystems is urgently needed.
During the 'Forum on Building an Anchor-Centric Super-Regional Technology Commercialization Ecosystem,' held as part of the '2026 Industry-Academic Cooperation EXPO' from September 30 to October 2 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, policy solutions were proposed to transform university research assets into key engines for super-regional economic growth.
The forum, hosted by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Research Foundation, gathered representatives from regional university industry-academic cooperation groups and technology holding companies to explore ways to transition from the existing segmented system of 17 cities and provinces to a '5-pole 3-special' super-regional collaboration ecosystem.
In his keynote address, Jang Gi-sul, President of the Korea Association of University Technology Transfer (Kautm), discussed the structural limitations of the current anchor project and proposed governance innovations. He pointed out that over 70% of current anchor plans are focused solely on education and employment, leading to a paradox of resource outflow where universities train talent that ultimately leaves the region due to a lack of innovative companies.
Jang cited a study published in Nature Biotechnology in 2020, which tracked 498 university-based startups, noting that the success rate for companies that relocate is between 43% and 60%, while those that remain local have a success rate of only 15%. He emphasized that the key performance indicators (KPIs) for anchor projects should focus on the density of interactions and the number of university-derived innovative companies, rather than just local population retention.
He also highlighted the fragmentation of technology transfer due to varying KPI formulas and budget restrictions across local governments, suggesting that the expertise and know-how accumulated from the Ministry of Education's 'BRIDGE' program over the past decade should be integrated into the anchor system.
Jang specifically proposed four recommendations for establishing super-regional technology commercialization governance: 1) Establishing a multi-layered governance structure involving government, industry, and academia; 2) Enhancing AI-based matching systems; 3) Upgrading community colleges to serve as 'demonstration manufacturing hubs'; and 4) Launching 'Pace Maker' super-regional projects.
The subsequent panel discussion, moderated by Kim Seong-geun, head of the Busan National University Technology Holding Company, included experts from seven universities. Kim emphasized that the boundaries between administration and market do not align, and that super-regional collaboration is an inevitable task. He raised the need for realistic solutions to conflicts over performance distribution and government support.
Hah Kyung-soo, head of the Chungnam National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Group, noted that technology commercialization spans from supply to validation, investment, and mass production, and confining it to 17 administrative regions has led to the neglect of excellent technologies that lack local companies. He stressed the urgency of fostering economic self-sufficiency by nurturing local businesses and creating jobs.
Lee Ji-hoon, a professor at Kangwon National University, criticized the limitations of past financial support programs, stating that without inter-regional collaboration, essential resources for business growth cannot be filled. He advocated for the establishment of a joint fund and common KPI governance that allows stakeholders to share benefits independently of government support.
Kim Seong-hwan, head of the Gyeongbuk National University Technology Holding Company, pointed out that the current KPIs across the 17 cities and provinces are inconsistent and overly focused on quantitative metrics like employment rates, making it impossible to measure super-regional performance. He called for a shift to qualitative indicators centered on technology transfer success rates and company survival rates.
Regarding performance distribution conflicts, Kang Cheon-soo, a patent attorney at Kyung Hee University, stated that conflicts between universities are inevitable when it comes to performance and funding. He suggested establishing pre-agreed contribution measurement and distribution rules to prevent disputes.
Lee Hyun-seung, head of the Jeonbuk National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Group, called for three major support measures to improve practical systems: 1) Allowing flexibility in using local budgets for joint R&D and validation across regions; 2) Ensuring job security for TLO professionals through stable funding; and 3) Granting universities significant budget execution autonomy, including allowing carryover of funds for super-regional projects.
Lee Yong-sik, head of the Sungkyunkwan University Industry-Academic Cooperation Group, emphasized the need for advanced platform functions, stating that existing platforms have failed to connect genuine business demands. He proposed that new super-regional platforms evolve into intelligent matching systems that package and bundle optimal intellectual property across universities based on market needs.
Kim Bong-mun, head of the Central RISE Center at the Korea Research Foundation, stated in his opening remarks that technology commercialization is a core process of industry-academic cooperation that transforms university knowledge and technology into industrial and market value. He emphasized that the synergy between research lab technologies and corporate demand is essential for enhancing industrial competitiveness and regional growth.
Kim noted that while each university and region has unique strengths, explosive synergy and performance cannot be expected from the efforts of a single university or local government alone. He announced plans to select and operate shared universities and super-regional growth project teams to drive technology commercialization across regional boundaries and to continuously expand sustainable bridges at the local level.
Additionally, Kim mentioned that since early this year, he has been closely communicating with field experts to establish a 'K-Anchor' technology commercialization value consortium and strengthen the execution system. He pledged to actively incorporate the forum's recommendations for multi-layered governance and AI-based matching strategies into policies, ensuring that excellent university technologies lead to corporate innovation, regional growth, and ultimately enhance national competitiveness.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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