From Laboratory Patents to Industrial Applications: Soongsil University Named an Outstanding Institution in Intellectual Property Management

[Financial News] Soongsil University has been recognized by the government for its outstanding technology management achievements after transferring technologies developed in university laboratories to companies for commercialization and reinvesting the resulting revenue in research and development.
Soongsil University announced on the 16th that it had been selected as an Outstanding Institution in Intellectual Property Management for 2026, organized by the Ministry of Intellectual Property and the Korea Intellectual Property Strategy Agency, and received the Minister of Intellectual Property Award. The Outstanding Institution in Intellectual Property Management award is presented by the government to universities and public research institutions after a comprehensive evaluation of their technology management systems and technology-transfer performance with companies over the past three years.
Soongsil University received high marks for establishing a system centered on the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation Technology Commercialization Center to connect research achievements with industry. It identified promising technologies developed by university researchers at an early stage, developed them into high-value patents, and generated technology-licensing revenue by transferring them on a customized basis to companies that needed them.
The university also efficiently streamlined unused patents to reduce maintenance costs. A key factor was its successful establishment of a virtuous cycle in which revenue from technology transfers was reinvested in research and development on campus.
Following its selection, Soongsil University received intellectual property points as a prize, which can be used to pay patent application and registration fees over the next three years. The university plans to use the points to ease researchers’ patent-related financial burden and provide focused support for securing high-value core patents overseas to strengthen its future competitiveness.
Jeong Jae-hyun, head of Soongsil University’s Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, said, "This recognition is the result of our efforts to ensure that the achievements of university researchers do not remain confined to academic papers but deliver tangible value in industry." He added, "We will continue to increase technology transfers that meet companies’ needs and enhance the economic value of our research achievements."

[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter