Aekyung Industrial and Dong Sung Pharm Form Strategic R&D Alliance with Fudan University's Zhangjiang Research Institute

Aekyung Industrial and Dong Sung Pharm, both part of the Taekwang Group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Fudan University's Zhangjiang Research Institute in China to collaborate on skin science and beauty research and development.

The agreement establishes a long-term cooperative framework addressing the global skincare, cosmetics, healthcare, and beauty industries. The parties plan to share their respective research capabilities and product development experiences while seeking commercialization avenues for their technologies.

This alliance is designed to integrate the Zhangjiang Research Institute's scientific and technological research capabilities with their clinical research networks and marketing expertise, fostering collaborative industry-academia-research partnerships in China.

Key focus areas for collaboration include joint research on skin, scalp, and hair science; studies on skin and scalp data by nationality, region, and ethnicity; development of new raw materials, formulations, and delivery technologies; clinical tests and efficacy and safety evaluations; establishment of an AI-based database and analytical platform for skin and scalp; hair loss and dyeing-related research; publication of research results, patent applications, technology transfers, and commercialization; and compliance and market entry into China and global markets.

Aekyung Industrial, Dong Sung Pharm, and the Zhangjiang Research Institute are also exploring the potential for joint research and development, production facilities, joint ventures, and investment projects. Specific roles, costs, research results, intellectual property rights, and commercialization conditions of the individual collaborative projects will be detailed in separate agreements in the future.

The Taekwang Group, which now includes Aekyung Industrial and Dong Sung Pharm as its affiliates, plans to support the smooth operation of the cooperative framework by discovering new collaborative projects, facilitating discussions among parties, and reviewing business structures. There is also potential for other Taekwang Group affiliates, along with domestic and international universities, hospitals, and research institutions, to participate based on the collaborative project content.

To enhance the sustainability and enforceability of this collaboration, the parties are considering the establishment of a joint operating committee with co-chairs from both South Korea and China. Practical negotiations will also aim to detail research projects, role distribution, schedules, and budgets. The MOU is valid for a period of five years from the date of signing.

Fudan University, founded in 1905 in Shanghai, is a research-oriented institution and a member of China's prestigious C9 League. Its affiliated Huashan Hospital dermatology department is recognized as a leading institution in dermatology, ranking first annually in evaluations across China. The Zhangjiang Research Institute serves as a cooperative hub established by Fudan University in the Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, facilitating the transition of the university's research achievements into technology transfer, startups, and commercialization.

This collaboration is expected to yield synergy through the integration of the Zhangjiang Research Institute's cooperation framework and technological commercialization capabilities with the research and product development strengths of Aekyung Industrial and Dong Sung Pharm. The institutions will gradually develop a cooperative framework spanning basic research, data construction, raw material and formulation development, clinical evaluations, productization, and entry into global markets.

Kim Sang-jun, CEO of Aekyung Industrial, stated, “This MOU signifies the establishment of a long-term research cooperation foundation with Fudan University's Zhangjiang Research Institute. We aim to promote joint research across various fields, including skin and scalp data, AI analytical platforms, and new raw materials and formulations, translating these results into differentiated product competitiveness.”