On April 5th, KAIST signed an official strategic partnership with Global Techlink (GTL), an IP total service company that specializes in international patents and the technology trade, regarding the commercialization of technology (Tech-biz) at KAIST’s Munji Campus.
Through this partnership, KAIST hopes to systematically manage not only patents and related technologies developed by the KAIST faculty, but also industrial developments based on business models.
Until now, KAIST has concentrated on using its own human resources to transfer its patents and technologies to domestic companies. However, this agreement with GTL allows KAIST to target overseas tech-biz markets.
GTL has agreed to help create, protect and strengthen patent rights stemming from KAIST’s research projects and ideas, as well as provide a unified management service extending from selling and licensing patents to venture incubation.
KAIST’s vice-president of research, Professor Paik Kyung-Wook said that “We should protect patents developed by talented students and use them in the market to generate profit, but the fact of the matter is that universities do not have the necessary man power or know-how to do so”. He emphasized that this partnership with GTL will accelerate the global commercialization of technological assets developed by KAIST professors, students and researchers.
Mr. Kim Jong-hyun, the president of Global Techlink, announced that GTL will provide KAIST’s outstanding intellectual property with a customized total consulting service based on the world’s largest and best technology database, which it monopolizes, and various other services. Also, using its network with global corporations and distributors, the veteran marketing specialists at GTL will support and carry out KAIST’s tech-biz, although the specifics are still being worked out.