The South Korean government has launched a deep-tech commercialization support body, NEST, to back startups, incubation, and investment based on public research outcomes. The aim is for technology holding companies to join forces and build a startup "nest" so that next-generation technologies can move beyond the lab and into the market.
The Ministry of Science and ICT held the launch ceremony at Peace and Park Convention in Yongsan, Seoul on Thursday, announcing it would actively support startups by establishing a cooperative framework to spread outstanding public research outcomes to the market.
A total of 13 commercialization support institutions participated in the launch, including three comprehensive specialized firms and 10 company builders newly designated last month. The goal is to consolidate the capabilities of these institutions to build joint commercialization models, generate tangible outcomes, and revitalize the public technology commercialization ecosystem.
Each institution will cooperate closely across the full cycle, from identifying outstanding public research outcomes to supporting corporate growth. In particular, the comprehensive specialized firms will actively scout not only their own in-house technologies but also superior public technologies held by other universities and government-funded research institutes, providing all procedures needed for deep-tech company growth — from startup creation, incubation, and investment attraction to patent and legal services. Company builders will focus on promoting planned startup creation utilizing promising public technologies based on their technological and regional specialization.
R&D project goals by institution were also shared at the event. Yonsei University Technology Holdings said it aims to "achieve a total of 21 IPOs and M&As by 2030." Bluepoint Partners said, "Over the next five years, we will identify more than 1,000 commercialization candidates, make over 30 billion won in direct investments, and attract over 100 billion won in external investment." KIST Innovation, participating as a company builder, set a goal of identifying 34 planned startup projects, launching at least 15 companies, and triggering 10-fold leverage through 13 billion won in cumulative investment.
Shin Sung-kyu, CFO of AI semiconductor firm Rebellions, which previously received investment support from SNU Holdings, also attended the event and emphasized, "Long-term investment support is crucial for startups, which grow at a very rapid pace." He added, "The role of a consortium that provides steady, unwavering support amid market and technological changes will be of great help to entrepreneurs."
Koo Hyuk-chae, First Vice Minister of Science and ICT, said, "It is important to connect good technologies with the market so they lead to startups, investment, and growth." He added, "I hope the NEST consortium launched today will establish itself as a solid cooperative framework supporting the growth and market entry of startups based on public research outcomes, and become a new success model for Korea's deep-tech commercialization."
