All seven startups recommended by UNIST Holdings Co., Ltd. for the 2026 Tech Incubator Program for Startup (TIPS) under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) have been selected for government R&D support.

Five companies were selected for the TIPS General Track—Guardian AI, COFA, NU, SMCC, and Quantize Labs—while Ternell and Cheongmyeong Advanced Materials were selected for Deep Tech TIPS. Ternell is a UNIST faculty startup, while Quantize Labs was founded by a UNIST student; the other five companies were identified from outside the university.

TIPS combines private investment with government R&D funding. Designated operators invest in and recommend startups, which then undergo government evaluation. In 2026, General Track companies can receive up to KRW 800 million over two years, while Deep Tech TIPS provides up to KRW 1.5 billion over three years.

The two Deep Tech selections extend UNIST Holdings' involvement beyond initial investment. It participated in follow-on investment in Ternell before recommending the company for Deep Tech TIPS and also recommended Cheongmyeong Advanced Materials after its completion of the General Track.

UNIST Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of UNIST, became Ulsan's second TIPS operator in 2025. Its current and planned funds total KRW 38.6 billion, which the company plans to leverage for follow-on investment and international expansion.

“These companies now have a foundation to turn their technological potential into business results,” said Tae-Gyu Han, Director of UNIST Holdings. “We will work closely with them as they meet their R&D goals and strengthen their competitiveness in the market.” 

“Startups built on university research can bring new momentum to industry,” said UNIST President Chong Rae Park. “We will continue to support researchers and students pursuing entrepreneurship and create an environment where one success can lead to the next.”