Funds to help early-stage startup teams commercialize research
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology has received a 50 million won ($36,900) development fund donation from an AI company to support technology startups by students and researchers.
UNIST said Tuesday that Jung Doo-hee, chief executive of Impactive AI — a company specializing in AI-based forecasting solutions — donated the 50 million won at a ceremony held at the university's main building.
The funds will go toward UNIST Venture Foundry's startup activation fund, with a focus on helping pre-launch and early-stage technology startup teams validate market demand, refine their business models and bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world commercialization.
UNIST Venture Foundry supports technology startups by students and researchers through entrepreneurship education and business incubation programs, with particular emphasis on identifying customer needs and verifying commercialization potential in the early stages of a venture.
"When turning AI technology into a product, nothing mattered more than going into the field and seeing firsthand the problems customers face," Jung said. "I hope this donation helps aspiring startup teams listen to those on the ground and find more opportunities to solve real problems with their own technology."
Impactive AI, which Jung founded in 2021, specializes in enterprise AI forecasting solutions. Its flagship product, Deepflow, predicts product demand and raw material prices to support companies' inventory management and procurement decisions.
The company gained wider recognition in April when its quantum circuit-based forecasting solution, Quantum Deepflow, won the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Award at the 2026 Korea Impactech Awards.
"I am grateful to Jung Doo-hee for supporting the students and researchers preparing to launch technology startups," said UNIST President Park Jong-rae. "We will actively support startup teams through market validation and commercialization so that innovative technologies born in our laboratories can successfully take root in the market."
nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com
