The Korea Science & Technology Holdings (KST), a comprehensive professional technology commercialization company for government-funded research institutes, PTR Asset Management, a specialized investment firm based on technology value, and K-Ground Ventures (KGV), a first-cohort operator of the Scale-up TIPS program designated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a full-cycle investment and scale-up platform in the AX (AI convergence and Physical AI) sector.

This agreement was pursued to jointly build a dedicated platform through which domestic and overseas AI innovation companies can receive diverse forms of AX project investment and scale-up support across the entire lifecycle, from research and development to commercialization and global expansion.

Under the agreement, the three parties will introduce an industry-specific and cross-industry convergence value chain-type investment system and cooperate in creating an “AX-dedicated full-cycle fund” involving domestic and international commercialization experts, as well as in building an exchange platform between investors and companies. In particular, they plan to consistently identify and nurture unicorns in the AX sector through investments and global scale-up support based on their capabilities in technology value and IP evaluation.

The Korea Science & Technology Holdings is a technology commercialization holding company for 18 government-funded research institutes and has produced various achievements in the industrialization and global commercialization of their original technologies. Recently, it has been systematically supporting the global market entry of innovative technologies from these institutes, including producing the grand prize winners of the “Challenge! K-Startup 2025” preliminary startup league for two consecutive years. Through this agreement, it is expected to contribute to strengthening the global competitiveness of vertical AX companies and projects across all industrial sectors.

KST CEO Choi Chi-ho stated, “In the AX era, securing and utilizing original IP is becoming a national strategic asset,” adding, “On the back of this agreement, KST will fully perform its role as a specialized technology commercialization institution so that innovative technologies from government-funded research institutes and leading scientists can rapidly produce results in the global AX market.”

PTR Asset Management is a specialized investment firm that invests in pre-IPO and listed companies based on IP and technology value analysis, with a strong capability in global technology value assessment. PTR Asset Management CEO Lee Man-yeol said, “There are many cases where domestic AX companies, despite their technological prowess, face difficulties entering global markets due to IP disputes or limitations in technology value evaluation,” and added, “From the early stages of investment, we will continue to make bold investments in companies with global competitiveness through technology and IP evaluations based on markets and actual demand.”

K-Ground Ventures is building a new investment ecosystem by forming an investors’ council in which ACs, VCs, and PEs participate, with a focus on the AX sector. Recently, it has been leading AX collaboration by linking portfolio companies and end users in the areas of AMR (logistics robotics) and AI-based Energy Management Systems (EMS).

K-Ground Ventures CEO Cho Nam-hoon said, “Through this agreement, we will swiftly push forward the formation of sizeable funds with participation from both the private and public sectors,” and added, “We will accelerate the growth of innovative companies via an AX scale-up platform that connects post-investment TIPS and Scale-up TIPS R&D support with follow-on investments, M&A, and IPOs.”

Popular News