South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said on Wednesday that the share of high-growth companies among firms founded on research results from universities and government-funded institutes was 9.3 times higher than that of ordinary operating companies.

The ministry's 2025 Lab Startup Survey covered 3,850 surviving lab-founded companies that were less than 10 years old as of the end of 2024. It has been conducted annually since 2019 and is used as a basis for improving startup policies.

Among lab-founded companies with at least 10 regular workers, 19.5 percent were high-growth firms. That compares with 2.1 percent for ordinary operating companies, or 9.3 times higher. Average employment rose to 9.6 in 2024 from 6.9 in 2019, and average revenue increased to 900 million won from 400 million won over the same period. That marked average annual growth of 6.8 percent and 17.6 percent, respectively.

By startup type, faculty-founded firms were the largest group at 1,780 companies, or 46.2 percent. Startups through technology investment or transfers accounted for 1,292 companies, or 33.6 percent, followed by researcher-founded firms at 434, or 11.3 percent, and graduate student-founded firms at 344, or 8.9 percent. By industry, technology-based sectors accounted for 90.8 percent, led by manufacturing with 1,560 companies, or 40.5 percent, followed by professional, scientific and technical services with 1,004, or 26.1 percent, and information and communications with 871, or 22.6 percent.

The cumulative amount of investment raised by 878 companies with confirmed fundraising information was 4.53 trillion won. By field, bio and healthcare accounted for 53.0 percent, more than half, followed by semiconductors and displays at 9.7 percent and environment and energy at 6.5 percent.

Lee Eun-young (이은영), director general for research results and innovation at the ministry, said, "This survey confirmed the growth of tech startups using public research outcomes." She added, "We will systematically review the lab startup ecosystem through regular surveys and strengthen policy support."