Among the six universities participating in the Ministry of Science and ICT’s STAR-Academy (Science and Technology Acceleration for Region+Academy) project to commercialize science and technology, Dankook University was selected as having the most outstanding project group following evaluations of the project’s first-year performance. The project was introduced to ensure cutting-edge technologies are not overlooked in the market but supplied appropriately to sharpen the competitiveness of companies while also promoting the reach of relevant research findings. The essence of the project is to nurture professionals with graduate degrees. “[We] set up a Department for Science & Technology Policy Convergence in the general Graduate School and admitted fifty new students to lead practical technology development related to digital healthcare and cutting-edge machinery that leverage artificial intelligence,” explained professor Sung-han Rhim who heads the project at Dankook. He shared the blueprint to “continuously foster 40~50 students with masters and doctoral degrees each year, supported with government subsidies worth a total of KRW 6.8 billion by 2027.”
The Department of Science & Technology Policy Convergence offers a selection of majors including Science & Technology Policies, Science & Technology Commercialization, and Science & Technology Startups. The curriculum for Science & Technology Policies covers relevant policy data, artificial intelligence, and technology innovation policies, as well as science & technology governance and sustainability. The Science and Technology Commercialization major touches on topics such as technology valuation, technology commercialization strategies, patents and intellectual property rights, and technology forecasting and planning. Those majoring in Science and Technology Startups will dive deep into business feasibility analysis, startup policies, Acceleration practices, and study overseas startups.
In addition to fostering professional talent, the project group is also working on setting up an ecosystem by issuing the ‘Science and Technology Commercialization Policy Report,’ establishing the Korean Society of Science and Technology Commercialization, publishing a society journal entitled ‘Science and Technology Convergence Studies,’ building a cooperative system with institutions such as the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator, and hosting STAR Academy conferences and seminars. Recognized for such efforts, professor Rhim was awarded the of Science and ICT award last January.
“The project group achieved 100% of the performance goals set forth by the government in its first year,” said Rhim who also added his hopes to “strengthen an advanced theory and hands-on training system to promote local industries and share our achievements in science and technology going forward.”