Rutgers Delegation to South Korea Builds a Strategic Network of Collaboration 

Rutgers University’s recent engagements across South Korea marked a significant step forward in strengthening academic, research, and industry partnerships in one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems.  

In December, a delegation of faculty and executive staff traveled to South Korea to explore opportunities for future collaborations with academic, industry, and government entities. Through meetings with leading universities, research institutes, and industry partners, the Rutgers delegation deepened existing relationships and laid the groundwork for new collaborations spanning student mobility, faculty research, industry engagement, and translational innovation.

The delegation was led by Ji-Yeung Jang, Assistant Vice President for Global Affairs, who was joined by Najwa Borkadi, Executive Director for Research Business Development, Rutgers Health; Victoria C. Ramenzoni, Associate Professor, Human Ecology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences; Rosa Chaviano-Moran, Associate Dean for Admissions, School of Dental Medicine; and Megan Francis, Director of Global Engagement, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. 

Dr. Jang noted: “At the heart of these conversations was a shared commitment to moving beyond symbolic agreements toward clearly defined, outcome-driven collaborations that align Rutgers’ institutional strengths with global and regional priorities.”  

Industry Collaboration and Innovation Ecosystems 

Discussions with South Korean biopharmaceutical leader Celltrion Inc. underscored the growing interest among Korean life-science companies in partnering with U.S. research universities. The Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) expressed strong interest in supporting a Rutgers–Celltrion–IFEZ collaboration, particularly in areas such as joint R&D, overseas research training, and innovation-driven partnerships. While Celltrion’s open innovation team operates separately from its New Jersey manufacturing facilities, both sides emphasized the importance of building long-term relationships with New Jersey communities and organizations.  

Follow-up conversations are now focused on identifying concrete project opportunities ahead of a planned visit by the Celltrion leadership team to Rutgers this summer.   

Additionally, Rutgers’ participation in major innovation forums, including the AI-BIOX Grand Summit and industry-focused discussions hosted by KIAT (Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology), further positioned the university as a strategic partner for Korea’s next generation of technology development. These engagements highlighted Rutgers’ core strengths in areas such as AI and health, precision medicine, advanced manufacturing, food and nutrition, and sustainability—fields closely aligned with the evolving needs of Korean industry.  

Expanding Academic and Research Partnerships 

Across multiple institutions, including Seoul National University (SNU), Yonsei University, Korea University, Kyung Hee University, UNIST, CHA University, and Ajou University, conversations consistently emphasized student mobility and faculty collaboration as the most effective catalysts for deeper institutional ties. 

At Yonsei University, discussions focused on renewing the Reciprocal Student Exchange Agreement and expanding pathways for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral engagement with opportunities such as summer research internships, hackathons, pharmacy fellowship programs, and graduate research training looking particularly promising. 

Seoul National University engagements spanned multiple schools, including Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Earth and Environmental Sciences, and discussions explored joint research seed funding, industry-sponsored postdoctoral positions, short-term and customized student programs. There was also discussion about the possibility of hosting a third joint symposium in 2026 focused on producing tangible outcomes such as joint grant applications and international research consortia.  

In meetings with SNU’s School of Dentistry, strong student interest emerged in Rutgers School of Dental Medicine’s internationally educated DMD program and externship opportunities, building on the existing MOU between the institutions.   

Leveraging Student Mobility to Drive Faculty Collaboration 

At Korea University and Kyung Hee University, the delegation focused on how structured student mobility, including short-term programs, internships, exchanges, and dual degrees, can serve as a gateway to sustainable faculty collaboration. Areas of interest included life sciences, dentistry, climate and environmental sciences, smart agriculture, biohealth, AI, and interdisciplinary research spanning engineering and medicine. 

Two Rutgers faculty members are currently participating in Kyung Hee University’s Eminent Scholars Program, and one of the KHU colleges expressed interest in further collaboration with Rutgers’ in this framework. In addition,  graduate research placements, and short-term experiential programs were discussed. Faculty-to-faculty matchmaking and thematic small-group follow-ups are now being developed to translate shared interests into active research partnerships. 

UNIST and CHA University highlighted strong alignment with Rutgers in AI-enabled manufacturing, health technologies, physician-scientist training, and industry-embedded research, with discussions exploring dual-degree pathways, industry-sponsored postdoctoral positions, research placements, and joint symposia.  

Looking Ahead: From Engagement to Impact 

Across all meetings, a clear message emerged: successful global partnerships require focus, coordination, and sustained institutional support. Future efforts will prioritize clearly scoped pilot programs, strong administrative leadership, diversified funding models, and meaningful industry engagement to ensure that collaborations remain viable and impactful in the long run. 

The delegation’s work also reinforced the strategic advantage of Rutgers’ location in New Jersey, particularly for Korean companies seeking entry into the U.S. market. As Dr. Jang remarked, “By combining academic excellence, industry partnerships, and state-level engagement, Rutgers is well positioned to serve as a gateway for innovation, talent development, and global impact.”