Asia
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Hokkaido University formally launches ¥3bn Green Frontier Fund
Hokkaido University partnered with 15th Rock in March 2024 to create the Green Frontier Fund. LPs as of the first close include corporates and public investors.
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Israeli institutions join forces for $500m INBI Core
More than a dozen Israeli universities, institutes, and academic medical centres are launching a $500 million venture fund called INBI Core.
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When lateness is a critical advantage
South Korea’s science and technology institutes are reshaping the local ecosystem.
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Wadi Jeddah readies $10m fund launch
King Abdulaziz University’s commercialisation arm plans to launch a venture fund by early 2027 to invest in local spinouts and startups.
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DGIST launches first fund with ₩2bn
The fund launch comes just four months after DGIST changed its leadership structure to co-CEOs and announced plans for a fund.
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National Tsing Hua University launches NT$1bn NTHU Future Fund
National Tsing Hua University has partnered with Top Taiwan Venture Capital to launch the spinout investment fund.
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Tohoku University Venture Partners launches third fund
The THVP3 Fund has a target size of ¥6 billion, though this could be extended to ¥10 billion if investor interest is high.
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SNU Technology Holdings raises ₩5.1bn fund
Seoul National University Technology Holdings has raised a new fund that it will co-manage with accelerator Seoul Frontier Investment.
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Mok Seung-hwan joins South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups
Mok Seung-hwan has been the chief executive officer of Seoul National University Technology Holdings since 2020.
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SMU launches $10m urban sustainability fund
The Urban SustaInnovator Fund will back companies going through SMU’s accelerator programme for urban sustainability.
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UNIST is accredited as a VC firm, now able to raise large funds
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology’s UNIST Technology Holdings has already been selected as the manager of a ₩12 billion fund.
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Cyprus updates equity framework for spinouts
The original framework, adapted in 2018, failed to generate a single spinout after terms were deemed too onerous for academics.
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Alumni Ventures expands into Japan with UTokyo IPC-backed fund
UTokyo Innovation Platform has partnered with Alumni Ventures to launch the Alumni Ventures Japan+US Bridge Fund.
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Kobe University Capital launches ¥6bn fund backed by UTokyo IPC
UTokyo Innovation Platform’s ASA Fund is now a limited partner in the KUC2 Fund, which will not just invest but also build spinouts from scratch.
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HIC Fund I bets ¥1.19bn on Hiroshima spinouts
Hiroshima’s university ecosystem receives a ¥1.19 billion boost from the HIC Fund I, managed by Hiroshima Incubation & Capital, to nurture local spinouts.
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University of Hong Kong launches second spinout investment fund this month, Gobi–HKU Fund I
HKU has established the Gobi-HKU Fund I, merely a week after reaching a first close for the FutureTech Stars-HKU Venture LP Fund.
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Kyoto University Innovation Capital launches ¥20bn Fund III
The fund has already attracted a host of LPs, including corporates like Astellas Pharma, Tokyu Land, and Shimadzu.
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University of Hong Kong achieves first close for HK$300m fund
The FutureTech Stars-HKU Venture LP Fund is the result of a partnership between the university and the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ CAS Star.
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DGIST Technology Holdings appoints Choi Moon-jong as co-CEO, plans fund launches
The Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology’s commercialisation arm has changed its leadership structure to two CEOs.
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Waseda University lays groundwork for impact venture capital fund
Waseda University Impact Capital will focus on the humanities and social sciences, and will operate alongside existing Waseda University Ventures.
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King Saud University launches $20m early-stage venture fund
The King Saud University Venture Fund has been co-created by the university’s investment arm, Riyadh Valley Company, and will be managed by SparkLabs.
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KAUST names Izaro Lopez Garcia interim director of technology transfer
Izaro Lopez Garcia joined the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology as head of technology development three years ago.
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IIT Madras launches ₹6bn deep tech fund
IIT Madras has joined forces with Unicorn India Ventures to launch a deep tech fund that aims to invest in more than 25 companies.
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Apuri BioVenture launches to build spinouts
The Chinese firm will focus on building ventures around university research with seasoned operators rather than relying on faculty founders.
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Kangwon National University receives state capital for new fund
Kangwon National University Technology Holding, the Korean institution’s commercialisation arm, will work with Trigger Investment Partners.
