LINC 3.0 (Leaders in Industry-University Cooperation 3.0) collaborated with the Korea Drug Research Association to host the Investment Forum for Promising Bio Ventures and Startups at the KINTEX exhibition centre in Ilsan, Gyeonggi. This event aimed to attract investment for Korean biopharmaceutical startups, promote mergers and acquisitions, foster open innovation, and support the global expansion of these startups. The forum featured participation from 16 promising biopharmaceutical startups and attracted over 200 attendees, including analysts and fund managers from securities firms, consulting firms, and venture capital companies.
Among the participants were three campus startups from Korea University (KU). NeuroXT Inc., led by Professor Kim Dong-Joo from the Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, is developing personalized sleep management electroceuticals. Microgentas Inc., headed by Professor Shin Se-hyun from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, focuses on exosome nucleic acid-based breast cancer diagnostic technology. Astrion Inc., led by Professor Park Jae-Yong from the College of Health Science, is working on a first-in-class synthetic drug for glioblastoma and other intractable brain diseases. These startups engaged in investor relations (IR) activities at the forum, garnering significant interest from researchers and investors in the pharmaceutical sector.
Yoo Hyuck, Executive Vice President for Research at KU and the leader of the LINC 3.0 program, expressed optimism about the forum’s impact. He stated, “With the momentum gained from this forum, we will provide comprehensive support to KU’s biopharmaceutical startups.
Our goal is to help them secure investments from both domestic and international sources, commercialize their research and development platforms, and expand into the global market.” The forum underscored the commitment to advancing Korea’s biopharmaceutical industry by bridging the gap between innovative startups and potential investors, thereby facilitating the growth and international reach of these ventures.
