50 Companies Selected as Excellent Companies for Industry-Academic Collaboration, Including SK Hynix and LG Display

[Financial News] Fifty companies, including LG Display, SK Hynix, and Kia, will receive lower bank interest rates and preferential benefits on government projects in recognition of their efforts to lead talent development and technology cooperation in partnership with universities.
On the 3rd, the Ministry of Education selected and announced companies that have achieved outstanding results in university student field training, curriculum operation, and technology transfer as "2026 Excellent Companies for Industry-Academic Cooperation." This year's list also includes Kumho Petrochemical, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Semes, Sempio Foods, and Autoliv.
Looking at major examples of collaboration, SK Hynix partners with universities to operate customized educational programs, such as semiconductor contract departments, linking recruitment with industry-academia research projects. LG Display has established a curriculum (Department of Display Convergence Engineering) jointly with universities like Yonsei University and is strengthening its foundation for securing specialized personnel by linking field training with recruitment. Additionally, Autoliv, an automotive safety component manufacturer, collaborates with institutions like Gachon University to operate a standard field training program, providing students with diverse job experiences in production, quality, and research and development (R&D).
Regarding technology transfer and the execution of industrial projects, Sempio Foods receives excellent technologies from universities and utilizes them in the food research and development and commercialization processes. Semiconductor equipment company Semes promotes the discovery of innovative projects in the equipment and process fields and joint industry-academia research targeting universities and research institutions nationwide through an annual open innovation challenge. Kumho Petrochemical is also conducting research projects with major universities and materials laboratories to jointly develop technologies for next-generation eco-friendly synthetic rubber and high-performance chemical materials.
Selected companies will receive financial benefits and preferential treatment in government programs for the next two years. In the financial sector, NH NongHyup Bank offers preferential loan interest rates and exchange rates for foreign exchange transactions, while SC First Bank provides preferential loan interest rates, exemption from early repayment fees, and discounts on other fees such as remittance fees. When applying for government programs, companies will be granted benefits such as an upgrade in detailed evaluation grades for R&D guarantees from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, preferential treatment during the selection process for the Ministry of Employment and Labor's "Korea's Best Job Creation Enterprise" certification, and additional points during the selection process for work-study parallel learning enterprises.
This selection was made based on a comprehensive evaluation of the accumulation of 'industry-academia collaboration mileage,' the diversity of activities, and the utilization of the sites. The preliminary list underwent verification for compliance with employment, labor, and industrial safety laws, as well as a 14-day public preliminary verification process. Companies previously selected as excellent industry-academia collaboration enterprises and currently receiving preferential benefits were excluded from this year's selection.
Lee Hae-sook, Deputy Minister for Higher Education and Lifelong Policy at the Ministry of Education, stated, "Cooperation between universities and businesses is a key driving force for enhancing national competitiveness and revitalizing regional economies," adding, "We will continue to listen to voices from the field and identify more practical and diverse support measures to ensure that businesses and universities can further prosper and develop together."
Meanwhile, starting this year, the operating agency for the Industry-Academic Cooperation Mileage System has changed from the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the National Research Foundation of Korea. Based on its experience in managing various university support programs related to industry-academia cooperation, the National Research Foundation plans to operate the system with greater substance.

[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter