- Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Daedeok INNOPOLIS with Joint Cooperation for Advanced Technology Commercialization Among Industry, Research, and Government-

□ The INNOPOLIS Foundation (Chairman Byung-Sam Kang, hereinafter referred to as the 'Foundation') announced that on October 19th (Thursday), a new technology transfer agreement worth 1.2 billion KRW was signed at the Daejeon Convention Center with the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (President Jang-Sung Kim, hereinafter referred to as 'KRIBB') and Daedeok INNOPOLIS research-based company, EsClabs Co., Ltd. (CEO Jung-Hyun Ahn).

*A research-based company is established within INNOPOLIS by investing more than 10% of the capital for the direct commercialization of technology developed by public research institutes.

ㅇ The technology transfer agreement includes a lump-sum payment of 1.2 billion KRW and a running royalty of '3% of sales'. Through this agreement, Esc labs Co., Ltd. will acquire additional technology from KRIBB's promising lab, specifically the Cell Factory Research Center led by Dr. Hee-Sik Kim, to establish a foundation for producing lutein through an eco-friendly process.

 

□ In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Daedeok INNOPOLIS, the Foundation has consistently worked to advance technology commercialization by identifying promising labs and leveraging their outstanding technologies.

 

ㅇ The Foundation has supported commercialization through business matching, providing consulting services, and developing roadmaps. As a result, in December 2021, KRIBB and ASK Company (parent company of Lieman Korea) jointly invested to register Esc labs Co., Ltd. as a high-capital research-based company (No. 1326) with a capital of 1.59 billion KRW.

□ This technology transfer is expected to not only substitute lutein imports but also contribute to exports and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a greenhouse gas.

ㅇ The Cell Factory Research Center at KRIBB, led by Dr. Hee-Sik Kim, is at the forefront of developing Chlorella microalgae that can produce high yields of carotenoids, including lutein.

ㅇ This microalgae can be cultured using carbon dioxide, and the biomass obtained can be utilized to extract valuable substances.

 

ㅇ Esc Labs Co., Ltd. plans to develop a bio-process for lutein production using microalgae with the transferred technology. Currently, lutein used in eye health supplements is extracted from marigold petals, and the market relies entirely on imports, which is rapidly growing.

 

□ Byung-Sam Kang, Chairman of the INNOPOLIS Foundation, stated, “On the 50th anniversary of Daedeok INNOPOLIS in 2023, we are very pleased to have transferred this excellent technology to a research-based company. We will continue to support the discovery and backing of promising labs to create successful cases of technology commercialization.”

Reference 1

Photo from Technology Transfer Signing Ceremony (Original file attached)

Photo. Attendees are taking a commemorative photo at the technology transfer signing ceremony. (From left) Daedeok INNOPOLIS Foundation Director Eun-Il Park, KRIBB Director Oh-Seok Kwon, KRIBB Director Hee-Sik Kim, ESC Lab Executive Director Han-Woong Park, and SYP CEO Sung-Wook Hong.

Reference 2

Company Introduction: ESC Labs Inc.

□ Company Overview

ㅇ CEO: An Jung-Hyun

ㅇ Establishment Type: Research Institute Company (No. 1326)

ㅇInvesting Companies: Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB, Technology) and ESC Company Ltd.* (Capital)

*ESC Company Ltd.: A holding company manufacturing and selling cosmetics and food products

 

ㅇ Investment Details: Capital of 1.59 billion KRW

ㅇ Industry: Manufacturing and selling health functional food and cosmetic ingredients

ㅇ Address: 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Venture Building Room 109

ㅇ Commercialized Technology: Development of functional materials based on microalgae

ㅇ Investment Technologies:

① New microalgae with high lutein productivity (Registration No. 10-2019448, 2019.09.02)

② New microalgae with high productivity of zeaxanthin and lutein (Application No. 10-2021-0009601, 2021.01.22)

 

□ Subsequent Technology Transfer (Key Patents)

 ㅇ 「"Chlorella Microalgae with High Carotenoid Production and Production Method Thereof"

 ㅇ  "Improved Method for Producing Bio-Oil" and others

Reference 3

Glossary of Key Terms

Key terminology

 

ㅇ Carotenoids: A type of natural pigment that assists in photosynthesis and protects against the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. Carotenoids contain 40 carbon atoms, and their ends form a ring structure. Notable examples include beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin, all of which possess high antioxidant properties and various bioactive functions.

ㅇ Microalgae: Small unicellular organisms measuring in micrometers, commonly referred to as phytoplankton. Depending on the type of microalgae, they can produce various substances such as lutein, zeaxanthin, antioxidants, and carotenoids. They also have the ability to absorb and reduce greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide.

ㅇ Lutein: A carotenoid natural pigment abundantly found in leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and yellow carrots, and commonly in marigold plants. This pigment is concentrated in the macula, a small area of the retina responsible for 3D vision, and is closely related to eye health.

ㅇ Biomass: A term that collectively refers to various organic entities, including plants that synthesize organic matter using solar energy, and animals and microorganisms that feed on these plants. Similarly, microalgae biomass refers to the aggregated mass of cultivated microalgae.

Reference 4

Introduction of Researcher - Dr. Hee-Sik Kim

1. Personal Information ○ Affiliation: Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Cell Factory Research Center (Director) ○ Phone: +82-42-860-4326 ○ Email: hkim@kribb.re.kr

2. Education

 

o 1987 - 1991: B.Sc. in Microbial Engineering, Konkuk University

o 1991 - 1993: M.Sc. in Fermentation Engineering, Konkuk University

o 1996 - 2000: Ph.D. in Applied Microbiology, NAIST, Japan

o 2008 - 2009: Post-Doc in Microbiology, University of Massachusetts (UMASS), USA

 

 

3. Professional Experience

 

o 1994 - 2000: Researcher, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB)

o 2000 - Present: Senior/Principal Researcher, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB)

o 2011 - Present: Professor, University of Science and Technology (UST)

o 2020 - Present: Member, Climate Environment Research Committee, Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)

o 2021 - Present: Director, COMPA Microalgae Translational Research Center, Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)

 

4. Research Fields

 

o Development of microalgae cell factories and biomass production

o Development of microalgae-based biological carbon capture & utilization (CCU) technology

o Development and mass production of bio-based materials derived from microorganisms

o Development of bioremediation technology using microorganisms