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Generous Donation by Former and Current Scientists of KIST (Mar 12, 2013)
- Date : 2013-10-28
- Views : 5962
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Public Relations Team
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![Generous Donation by Former and Current Scientists of KIST](http://kist.re.kr/Data/editor/mVOcURZs.jpg)
On March 12, 2013, Director Jong Oh Park (The Robot Research Center of Chonnam National University, Former Senior Researcher at KIST), Professor Byeong Gyu Kim (The Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department of the Korea Aerospace University, Former Senior Researcher at KIST) and Dr. Tae Song Kim (Current Senior Researcher at the Bio-micro System Research Group of KIST) together donated 150 million Korean Won to KIST’s Science Sharing Fund. Their donation represented a portion of royalties received from transferring a patented technology overseas.
These scientists developed a robotic colorectal endoscopy technology that moves freely and smoothly, even inside severely undulated and curved large intestines, by applying the movement principle of an inchworm. This technology was subsequently transferred to an Italian medical equipment and supply company, ERA Endoscopy, for 1 million Euros (approximately 1.5 billion Korean Won) in February 2012. This robotic colorectal endoscopy technology markedly reduces the pain and discomfort experienced with current colorectal endoscopy equipment and reduces the risk of puncturing the intestinal lining during procedures.
![Generous Donation by Former and Current Scientists of KIST](http://kist.re.kr/Data/editor/eSBUPBdV.jpg)
KIST established the Science Sharing Fund to support community social welfare activities by sharing profits generated through homegrown technology transfers. The fund is composed of voluntary donations from KIST employees as well as outside contributions and is used for engineering scholarships, support to developing countries and social volunteering services. It also helps fund special initiatives of KIST such as support of outstanding academic researchers and the expansion of research areas. Since its inception in April 2012, a total of 460 people have participated and donated over 400 million Korean Won, with an additional 1.5 billion Won promised as of the end of February 2013. KIST has set a goal of raising 11.8 billion Won by 2015.