The POSTECH Faculty and Staff Startup Regulations provide an institutional foundation for encouraging startup activities by faculty and staff and maximizing the commercialization and social value of research outcomes. These regulations support the overall startup process, including lab-based startups, equity participation, and technology transfer, and aim to strengthen POSTECH’s industry–academia collaboration and innovation ecosystem.

Type
Relevant Provisions
Definition of Faculty and Staff Startups
(Startup Regulations, Article 3)

‘Faculty and Staff’ refers to all full-time faculty, non-full-time faculty, and researchers affiliated with the university.

‘Faculty and Staff Startup’ refers to the establishment of a small or venture enterprise utilizing university-owned technology (including technology or know-how developed during employment or by others) while employed or on leave. Establishment includes serving as a company's representative or executive (excluding outside directors, non-standing directors, and auditors) or owning more than 50% of voting shares in a small or venture enterprise established by a third party.

Eligibility for Startups
(Startup Regulations, Article 4)
  1. (1) Full-time faculty with at least 3 years of service.
  2. (2) Non-full-time faculty and researchers with at least 6 months of service.
  3. (3) Exceptions can be made with the president's approval if the startup is deemed significantly beneficial to the university.
Startup Approval
(Startup Regulations, Article 6)
  1. (1) Faculty and staff granted startup approval must transfer university-owned technology within one month. Failure to do so may result in approval cancellation.
  2. (2) Applications must be reviewed by department heads and committees, followed by final approval from the university president.
  3. (3) Department heads can attach opinions to the review, and committees must consider feedback from both department heads and applicants.
  4. (4) The committee must respond to issues raised and maintain records of their decisions.
Financial Contributions by Faculty and Staff Entrepreneurs
(Startup Regulations, Article 7)

Faculty and staff entrepreneurs must fulfill one of the following financial contributions to the university

  1. (1) Transfer shares equivalent to KRW 2.5 million par value (5% of capital based on KRW 50 million) within one month of startup.
  2. (2) Provide 1.5% of the total issued shares upon IPO or M&A.
  3. (3) Transfer shares equivalent to KRW 1 million par value (2% of capital based on KRW 50 million) within one month, plus: - KRW 100 million upon achieving cumulative sales of KRW 10 billion, / KRW 200 million upon achieving KRW 30 billion, / KRW 200 million upon achieving KRW 50 billion (total of KRW 500 million).
Duties of Faculty and Staff Entrepreneurs
(Startup Regulations, Articles 11-13)

Faculty and staff entrepreneurs must fulfill one of the following financial contributions to the university

  • - Faculty and staff must ensure their entrepreneurial activities do not disrupt departmental operations.
  • - Faculty entrepreneurs are prohibited from involving students in their startups.
  • - The university may request specific documents from entrepreneurs, and they must comply unless the information could jeopardize the company's viability.