KIST Expands Global R&D Collaboration to Support Corporate Internationalization

KIST (President: Sang-Rok Oh) is taking new strides in supporting corporate global technology commercialization. On March 27, KIST hosted the “Global Expansion Support Briefing for Partner Companies” at its headquarters in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, inviting key industry partners to explore collaborative opportunities.

The event saw participation from over 100 partner companies, with KIST presenting its four international research hubs and their specialized joint R&D support programs designed to facilitate global expansion. These four hubs are:

• - Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST): Supports Korean companies entering the Vietnamese market through joint R&D that reflects the needs of both the Korean and Vietnamese industries, while accelerating technology commercialization for local enterprises
• - KIST Europe: Operates an acceleration program in partnership with German innovation clusters, fostering collaboration between Korean and European companies
• - Indo-Korea S&T Center: Focuses on localized R&D in computational science, new materials, and AI to enhance technological integration in the Indian market
• - Korea-Boston Bridge (K-BB) Center: Works closely with MIT, Harvard, and other leading institutions in Boston to support global commercialization and market entry in the biotech sector

Following the program presentations, one-on-one consultation sessions were held, allowing partner companies to engage directly with KIST experts to tailor R&D strategies to their specific needs.

Through its global R&D infrastructure, KIST aims to accelerate corporate overseas expansion and commercialization, particularly in the deep tech sector. Moving forward, the institute plans to enhance open innovation initiatives, including joint technology commercialization programs, to ensure sustained industry support.

KIST President Oh remarked, “KIST is committed to going beyond one-time technology transfers, focusing instead on continuous technological development to strengthen the global competitiveness of deep tech companies. This briefing marks the beginning of our expanded efforts to empower partner companies with the resources they need for successful global market entry.”

With these initiatives, KIST continues to solidify its role as a key enabler of global innovation, helping businesses thrive in an increasingly competitive international landscape.