TBIC runs the Open Venture Lab Program, which aims to stimulate technology-based startups based on KAIST’s outstanding capacities in education and research. For more details, please contact TBIC.
 

The program is open to potential entrepreneurs among members of the general public who do not have any registered business on the date of announcement of the open call, made at the start of each year.
 

Yes, companies may participate simultaneously in similar programs. However, they may face disadvantages if the provided funds are not used solely for designated programs.
 

Teams that have passed the transition evaluation in the Pre-OVL Program are invited to sign partnership agreements.
 

Students can launch startups after obtaining approval for extracurricular activities pursuant to Article 4 of Guidelines on Management of Student Startups.

Guidelines on Management of Student Startups (Article 4. Startups While Enrolled)
① Students may launch startups by following procedures to obtain approval for extracurricular activities, provided that there is no disruption of academic activities. However, doctoral students who have transferred under the status of technical research personnel shall be excluded.
② Students intending to launch startups while enrolled shall submit an application for extracurricular activities, together with the necessary documents, to the Student Support Team, pursuant to Article 4 of Guidelines on Extracurricular Activities of Students.
③ Master’s and doctoral students who are recipients of a national/KAIST scholarship and launching a startup during enrollment shall submit an application for extracurricular activities instead of an application for change of student classification pursuant to Article 3 (4) of Guidelines on Change of Student Classification.

 

Students cannot engage in for-profit activities, including startups, without prior approval of the Minister of National Defense pursuant to Article 30 of the Framework Act on Military Status and Service. However, they may participate in educational sessions offered by support programs outside of official working hours.

Framework Act On Military Status And Service (Article 30. Ban on Profit-Seeking and Holding Multiple Positions)
① A soldier shall not engage in any for-profit activity, other than military service, and shall not concurrently engage in other activity without permission from the Minister of National Defense.
 

In addition to having an outstanding idea, you must assess other conditions such as the competencies of personnel, funding sources, value creation based on a specific business model, potential clients, expected costs, and revenue. You should also ensure there are no problems in terms of laws, accounting, intellectual property rights, and certification, and make thorough preparations for product manufacturing and sales. Does it sound complicated and difficult? Startup KAIST offers extensive support in these areas, and runs programs that simulate the startup environment to help students be better prepared.

1. Startup legal consulting service to answer questions on legal aspects of startups※ Opens every Wednesday
2. KAIST Loonshots Start Challenge for students with startup ideas or entrepreneurial interest
3. E*5 KAIST, startup audition program
4. Lab Startup KAIST for commercialization of lab-based research items
5. KEP to support business growth and attract investments for startups in the early stage
 

Some student ideas and inventions may be owned by KAIST depending on the situation. The Intellectual Property & Tech-Transfer Center determines ownership through a comprehensive evaluation of circumstances leading to each invention. For example, students whose inventions fall under any of the following should discuss the details of ownership with KAIST. Please consult the Intellectual Property & Tech-Transfer Center for further details.

1. An invention attained from a research project with research funds provided by KAIST
2. An invention attained by using specialized research equipment installed for a specific purpose
3. An invention attained with KAIST’s research funds, which are clearly distinct from general wages (e.g. TA allowance)

 

The related statutes and regulations are Article 16 (Grant of Leave of Absence of Public Educational Officials) and Article 16-2 (Special Cases concerning Concurrent Posts or Offices of Public Educational Officials) of the Act On Special Measures For The Promotion Of Venture Businesses, and Regulations on Business Startup and Guidelines on Adjunct Appointment of Faculty among KAIST’s regulations. The regulations can be accessed through the regulation management system of KAIST Portal.
 

According to Regulations on Business Startup, “faculty” refers to tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty serving full-time pursuant to Article 3 of Rules on Personnel Management, but not part-time faculty and research faculty.
 

The procedures for deliberations and approval have been simplified. Deliberations by the Startup Deliberation Committee and approval by the president are no longer required. This means that faculty members themselves are responsible for determining feasibility and business potential. Faculty members’ applications for leave or adjunct appointments are deliberated by respective departments only, not colleges. Provisions interfering with the promotion of faculty startups, causing conflict of interest, or leading to differences in interpretation have been removed.
 

Yes, the utilization of KAIST’s technology is the premise of faculty startups. The purpose of establishing an institutional basis for startup activities among faculty is to utilize technology owned by the university.
 

Faculty startups can be focused on technology developed by faculty or by others, that is, the university. Here, “technology” includes intellectual property rights (industrial property rights, copyrights, new intellectual property rights) and know-how that can be granted technology licenses.
 

Faculty who have applied for leave or are serving concurrent positions due to startup activities may provide student guidance and conduct research following deliberations by the Department Personnel Deliberation Committee, but in principle, their advisees cannot be involved in activities of faculty startups. This is permitted only if the startup research area is similar to the topic of student dissertations. In this case, such students must be registered as researchers and provided with relevant personnel expenses.
 

Faculty members deemed capable of making significant contributions to university development through startup activities are given permission to launch startups. Please submit the relevant materials to demonstrate your value.
 

Faculty members are given priority in the allocation of incubation space on Munji Campus. However, given the decreasing trend in campus incubation space, your incubation may be postponed or space may be unavailable altogether depending on vacancy and purpose of use. Please consult TBIC in advance.
 

Instructions for the reporting of corporations are provided following deliberations by the department (school). You may express interest in incubation at TBIC during this process to receive information on administrative procedures.
 

Yes. In fact, one faculty member established a U.S. corporation in 2018.