'New Senior' Research Boom... Pukyong BK21 Project Group Secures 71 Smart Healthcare Patents

18 Cases of Technology Transfer and Research Funding Contracts

Research Papers Published in Top 3% JCR Journals

Pukyong National University is steadily producing research achievements in "new senior" smart healthcare in response to population aging.

The BK21 New Senior Customized Smart Healthcare Project Group at Pukyong National University held its 6th-year performance exchange meeting on February 9 at the Dongwon Jangbogo Hall on campus, where it shared research outcomes including patents and technology transfers. About 100 people, including professors, researchers, and students, attended the event.

The project group was launched in 2020 with the goal of developing convergence technologies that combine new bio-materials and smart devices. It has since been conducting research and promoting industry-academic cooperation focused on customized healthcare technologies needed in an aging society.

Last year, based on original technologies in the new senior healthcare field, the group achieved 71 patents (22 registrations and 49 applications). It posted 18 cases of technology transfer and research funding contracts. It also signed nine technology transfer agreements, including for an "optical delivery device for tissue treatment," and the total technology transfer amount exceeded 70 million won.

Student research achievements also continued. There were nine cases of research funding acquisition and various awards, and the amount of student research funding secured reached 290 million won.

At the exchange meeting, studies such as a biomimetic nanomaterial platform, research on brain tumor diagnosis and treatment using photoacoustic brain imaging technology, and laser-based treatment for stress urinary incontinence were presented as best practices. Related papers have been published in international journals, including journals in the top 3% of JCR rankings and the top 10% by impact factor. Certificates of merit and scholarships were awarded to outstanding researchers.

Project group leader Lee Byungil said, "Based on these achievements, we will continue to foster talent grounded in advanced technology and develop convergence technologies tailored to specific diseases," adding, "We will also work to establish testbeds linked to local medical infrastructure and to secure global competitiveness."