Kiwoom Securities and Mirae Science Technology Partner to Fund Deep-Tech

Kiwoom Securities and Mirae Science Technology Holdings signed a strategic memorandum of understanding on September 8 to expand venture capital for deep-tech companies. The partnership seeks to accelerate the commercialization of high-tech research by linking promising startups with essential funding and capital market access.

The agreement was formalized at the Kiwoom Securities headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Under the terms of the MOU, the two organizations will collaborate to identify high-potential technology companies, providing them with a streamlined path to secure investment and establish linkages within the broader capital markets. This joint effort is specifically designed to increase the supply of productive finance for firms operating in the deep-tech sector.

Strengthening Productive Finance

This move aligns with Kiwoom Securities' "productive finance" strategy, which focuses on channeling growth funds into innovative enterprises rather than traditional lending. By partnering with Mirae Science Technology Holdings, Kiwoom gains a direct pipeline to cutting-edge academic innovation. Mirae Science Technology Holdings operates as a public technology commercialization entity, built around a core network of South Korea's premier science and technology institutions, including KAIST, UNIST, GIST, and DGIST.

These universities serve as the primary engines of research in the region, and Mirae Science Technology Holdings specializes in transforming that academic output into viable commercial ventures. By integrating Kiwoom's financial infrastructure with this academic network, the partnership addresses a critical bottleneck in the startup ecosystem: the transition from a laboratory prototype to a scalable, funded business.

Industry Implications

The collaboration creates a structured bridge between academic research and the pragmatic requirements of commercial capital. For deep-tech startups, which often require longer development cycles and higher initial capital than software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, access to tailored financial solutions is vital for survival and growth.

Ju-sung Eom, CEO of Kiwoom Securities, stated that the collaboration will allow the firm to expand its investment in innovative companies. Eom noted that the goal is to contribute to regional economic development by offering financial solutions tailored to a company's specific needs across its entire life cycle, from seed funding to maturity.

Future Outlook

Market observers will now look for the first wave of companies identified through this partnership to see which specific deep-tech verticals—such as semiconductors, biotechnology, or robotics—receive the most attention. While the MOU establishes the framework for cooperation, the long-term success of the initiative will depend on the volume of capital actually deployed and the number of university-founded startups that successfully transition to the public markets via Kiwoom's linkages.