Articles

University-Industry Cooperation Policy in Korea: Implementation and Implication of the Enactment of Law of Industrial Education and University-Industry Cooperation, 2003-2’ Mun Su Park, Seung Ouk Jeong, Tae-Sik Park

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of university-industry relations which overviews the policy implementations in Korea since 2003. In Korea, the current policy perspective tends to tighten university-industry link in science and technology policy at national economic system. Moreover, policy stance aims to expand university-industry cooperation in regional level. We aim to reflect a university-industry policy implementation and exploit implications for policy and future research to enhance the contributions of university-based research for social innovation and economic performance. This paper overviews the trend of national university-industry cooperation policy during the 2003-2011 period in Korea using data on Survey on University-Industry Cooperation Activities in 2011 and The Law on Industrial Education and University-industry Cooperation of 2003. In our analysis, there was a fundamental change for each of infrastructure and organization,technology transfer, cooperative education and training, and exchange of human capital in relation between industry and university. We highlight that each is remarkable policy outcomes for building the foundation and institutionalization to achieve long term national policy goal. We hope this initial research provides an implication and agenda for policy makers and researchers in a variety of disciplinary and methodological perspectives in the field of university-industry cooperation.