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Dankook selected to lead the 2020 Initial Startup Support Package program…"to nurture potential unicorn companies"
Writer 글로벌전략팀 방민혁
Date 2020.04.25
View Count 1,262
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Designated as a 'Leading University for Startups' every year since 2014, to receive 6.9 billion KRW in funds over the next 3 years
Achieved cumulative revenues of 55 billion KRW and attracted investments of 4.2 billion KRW over the past 3 years


Dankook University was named the lead organization for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ ‘2020 Initial Startup Support Package.’ DKU has been a part of the Ministry's startup support program for seven consecutive years since first being designated as a ‘Leading University for Startups (former name of the Initial Startup Support Package)' in 2014, reaffirming its position as an innovative base for entrepreneurship in Gyeonggi Province. The university will be sponsored 6.9 billion KRW over the next 3 years and plans to nurture student entrepreneurs and new business founders to contribute to fostering new industries in Korea. 



During the past 6 years, DKU has transformed into a 'startup-friendly campus' with more than 17 thousand students taking part in the 500 or so courses offered by the university related to establishing businesses. With over 1,000 students participating in student clubs for startups, the university hosts a 'Festival for Student Startup Clubs' each year to promote their pilot products and also attract investments.


Moreover, efforts have been made in connection with the local community to address difficulties faced by 'the entrepreneurially unprivileged' including the K-Startup Academy for immigrants and multi-cultural families, startup training and support for North Korean defectors, partnership programs with schools for the disabled, and a startup contest for universities in Yongin City, just to name a few.


There have been tangible results since 2018 such as cumulative revenues of 55 billion KRW, the creation of over 450 jobs, 1.2 billion KRW in exports, and achieving 4.2 billion KRW in investments. 


The university plans to leverage the foundation for startups built by Dankook to cooperate with other organizations in the province such as the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation and the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator to leap forward as a true startup hub in the Gyeonggi region. DKU will help with financing to attract direct investments for businesses early on, incubate experts for the fourth industrial revolution, and diversify inroads to global markets.


“The goal of this year's program is to materialize 'Win-win Glocal Startups' as part of the university's 'Dynamic Dankook 2027' vision,” said Ki-hoon Yum, head of Dankook's Startup Support Foundation, who went on to share aspirations to “go beyond startups and also develop unicorn companies and star venture businesses that can build various new growth engines for the future.”