YU’s Core Support Center for Natural Product-Based Medical Materials selected for follow-up project in the Basic Science Research Capacity Enhancement Program

KRW 1 billion project over 3 years, including KRW 800 million in government funding, expected to boost competitiveness in bio and medical research

Plans to upgrade research infrastructure and establish an independent operational foundation 

[July 16, 2025]

 Yeungnam University (President CHOI Oe-chool)’s Core Support Center for Natural Product-Based Medical Materials (Director NAM Joo-won) has been selected for the follow-up project under the “Basic Science Research Capacity Enhancement Program” administered by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

Through this follow-up project, the center aims to upgrade its research equipment operation system to improve research efficiency and transition to a sustainable, long-term operational model. The project will be carried out over the next three years with a total budget of KRW 1 billion, including KRW 800 million in government funding.

 Since first being selected for the program in 2019, Yeungnam University has systematically expanded its research foundation in the fields of natural products and medical materials over the past six years. The university has provided specialized research support, promoted joint equipment utilization, trained expert personnel, and built robust industry-academia collaboration networks. Building on these accomplishments, this follow-up project marks a key phase in strengthening the center’s operational stability and securing future growth. It focuses on modernizing and consolidating the research infrastructure. In particular, the center plans to enhance operational efficiency, improve its maintenance and management systems, and establish a revenue model based on research equipment services. These efforts aim to improve the center’s financial structure and create a more flexible system that can effectively respond to external demand.

Director NAM Joo-won (Professor, College of Pharmacy) stated, “Being selected for this follow-up project enables us to further advance our research infrastructure and strengthen our capabilities for independent operation.” He added, “We will continue to enhance the professionalism and practicality of research on natural product-based medical materials to make a meaningful contribution to the development of the bio and pharmaceutical sectors.”

 Through this project, YU plans not only to establish a fully independent operational system for the center but also to expand its research scope through global joint research and technology commercialization. The university also intends to play an active role in building an innovative ecosystem for the regional bio industry.