How to use fundamental science research to lunch a venture company 

Abstract

The ultimate goals of fundamental scientific research activity are to discover the laws of nature, and to make the world a better place. Academic job devoted to fundamental scientific research is one of the most pleasant occupations because it is mostly initiated by intellectual curiosities of individuals. When scientists reach mature levels of scientific knowledge and academic activities, some of them start to have desires to test the values of their knowledge and technology in the real market for various reasons, such as better recognitions, research funding acquisitions, extra incomes. Establishing a new business utilizing professional scientific knowledge and technology can be an efficient way to experience the real world and to evaluate the market value of his/her scientific knowledge. However, it is very challenging to launch a new business especially for scientist who has no experiences of running a business before. In this XJTLU Public Lecture, I will share my personal experiences of doing small business in my age of 18 and, also about the experience of launching venture companies with my fundamental scientific research after I received doctoral degree. I believe that this talk will give some ideas and courage to students and scientists who are considering to start their own business. 

Bio

Prof. Heechae Choi joined the Chemistry Department of XJTLU as a professor in January 2023 after spending years at University of Cologne, Germany, where he started his independent academic career with a prestigious fellowship, MOPGA-GRI (Sep.2018 - Dec.2022). 

Before his first independent research launched in Germany, he founded two venture companies, Virtual Lab Inc. and Materials Lab (Mar.2016, Aug.2018), which provide materials simulation platform and consulting services to big manufacturing companies including Samsung Electronics, 3M, SK, MiCo. 

He has developed several theory models for quality controls of mass produced functional materials running his technology-based business and doing academic work in parallel. 

The projects that he conducted as the PI are mostly about the theory-based materials processing condition predictions for high-technology business such as 

- Apple's iPhone antenna materials 

- Samsung Electronics's capacitor lifetime 

- Reliance-Samsung network device 

- SK Hynix electrostatic chuck 

Heechae's current main research interests are in fundamental approaches to energy conversion materials and semiconductor processing. 

如何利用基础科学研究创办创业公司 

摘要

基础科学研究活动的最终目标是发现自然规律，让世界变得更加美好。从事基础科学研究的学术工作是最令人愉快的职业之一，因为它主要是由个人的求知欲引发的。当科研人员的科学知识和学术活动达到成熟水平时，他们中的一些人开始渴望在现实市场中检验其知识和技术的价值，这么做的原因有很多，如获得更好的认可、获得研究经费、获得额外收入等。利用专业科学知识和技术创办新企业可以有效体验现实世界和评估其科学知识市场价值。然而，创办一家新企业是非常具有挑战性的，尤其是对于没有任何企业经营经验的科研人员来说。在本次公开课上，我将分享我在18岁时做小型企业的个人经历，以及我在获得博士学位后利用基础科学研究创办创业公司的经历。我相信这次演讲将给那些正在考虑创业的学生和科学家带来一些想法和勇气。 

人物简介

Heechae Choi教授2023年1月加入西交利物浦大学理学院化学系。在此之前，他曾在德国科隆大学(University of Cologne)任职，2018年Heechae Choi 教授被法德研究计划评为MOPGA-GRI第13位研究员，也自此开启了他的独立研究生涯。 

在德国进行首次独立研究之前，他创办了两家公司VirtualLab Inc和Materials Lab (分别于2016年3月和2018年8月成立)，为三星电子、3M、SK、MiCo等大型制造公司提供材料模拟平台和咨询服务。 

他开发了多个理论模型，用于大规模生产功能材料的质量控制，在运行技术型业务的同时还可进行学术研究。 

他作为 项目负责人开展的项目主要是为高科技企业进行基于理论的材料加工条件预测，例如 

- 苹果 iPhone 天线材料 

- 三星电子电容器寿命 

- 信实-三星网络设备 

- SK海力士静电吸盘 

Heechae Choi教授目前的主要研究兴趣是能源转换材料和半导体加工的基础方法。