Kangwon National University announced on the 22nd that its faculty startup, 'Dr. Oregonin Co., Ltd.' was selected on the 17th for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' technology startup support program, 'TIPS.' The TIPS program is a government-private investment partnership designed to discover and support promising venture startups with excellent technology that can lead the global market. 'Dr. Oregonin Co., Ltd.' was recommended for the program by 'Sopoong Ventures,' a local agri-food specialized investment firm in Gangwon Province. CEO Seon Choi, a professor in the Department of Forest Biomaterials Engineering, is recognized for his expertise in 'natural bio-materials,' a key industry in Gangwon Province, and 'bio-pharmaceutical new materials,' a specialized industry in Chuncheon. His extensive knowledge in education, R&D, and industry-academic collaboration has also been acknowledged.

'Dr. Oregonin Co., Ltd.' specializes in the research and development of high-performance bio-materials based on natural substances, focusing on multi-functional anti-obesity and sarcopenia-related food and pharmaceuticals. Despite being a newly established company in March 2022, the company has already launched two multi-functional food products and four functional cosmetics. In the first quarter of this year, it plans to introduce one new health functional food in an oral-dissolving film form and two additional functional cosmetics. Furthermore, the company's strong technological capabilities led to its selection as a 'Tech Valley Company' by the Korea Technology Finance Corporation. It is also receiving investment from TIPS operator Sopoong Ventures, the Korea Technology Finance Corporation, and the private investment association Winning Tree. Together with Professor Sang-il Min of Seoul National University Hospital, the company is pushing forward with the development of 'natural bio-materials and bio-pharmaceutical new materials.'

Professor Seon Choi from Kangwon National University stated, "Following the recent selection for the Korea Forest Service's and Small Research and Development Special Zone's projects, being chosen for the TIPS program is expected to enhance the development of new bio-pharmaceutical materials derived from tree resources for the first time globally." He added, "Starting clinical trials next year, our goal is to develop individually approved health functional foods utilizing native tree resources in Gangwon Province within the next 2-3 years, and we will do our best to achieve this."