NST Supports First Convergence-Type Startup with KIST and KIGAM Teams

The National Science and Technology Council (NST) announced on the 11th that it has selected "Float Bioscience" as the first preliminary convergence startup team for "convergence-type startups at government-funded research institutes."

The first preliminary convergence startup team members selected at the Pre-Demo Day held by NST on the 10th are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by NST

This project aims to foster startups through convergence among researchers from different government-funded research institutes. Among a total of three candidate teams, the final selected team, Float Bioscience, includes researchers from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials. Their goal is to develop and commercialize an "early diagnosis kit for bladder cancer using urine."

NST plans to support the final selected team with up to 100 million KRW in commercialization costs in kind, connect them with public technology commercialization specialized acceleration programs, provide startup spaces, and offer direct investments of over 200 million KRW.

Kim Bok-cheol, Chairman of NST, said, "I hope the first preliminary convergence startup team will lead to successful entrepreneurship and become a pioneering model for convergence-type startups," adding, "Through these various attempts, I expect the achievements of government-funded research institutes to spread to society and contribute to strengthening national competitiveness."