Hanyang University, under the leadership of President Lee Ki-jung, has announced the opening of recruitment for startup companies as part of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups' 'Startup-Centric University' initiative set for 2026. The purpose of this initiative is to invigorate the regional startup ecosystem and support the growth of promising startups by utilizing Hanyang University's strong infrastructure and network. The recruitment aims to discover and nurture entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas, with plans to select around 68 companies—20 under the 'university-origin' category and 48 under the 'region-based' category.

The eligibility for support extends to prospective entrepreneurs and startups within seven years of establishment. Importantly, for the 'region-based' category, over 60% of the selected startups will be young entrepreneurs aged 39 or younger, highlighting Hanyang University's commitment to fostering a dynamic youth startup ecosystem. Selected companies can expect to receive considerable funding, with up to 150 million won (averaging 70 million won) for university-origin startups and 100 million won (averaging 50 million won) for region-based startups. This funding is intended to help these businesses grow and thrive.

In addition to the main recruitment, Hanyang University is also pursuing a separate initiative to attract 'laboratory-specialized' startups, focusing on emerging technology-based companies developed through its 'Innovative Startup Laboratory.' About ten companies will be selected for this track, receiving up to 150 million won (averaging 77 million won) and a tailored growth program. The program emphasizes specific strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, bio-technology, secondary batteries, and intelligent robotics, demonstrating Hanyang University's comprehensive support for startups throughout all stages—from discovery to scaling up. President Ryu Chang-wan of the startup support unit articulated the university's commitment to broad support systems that include stages of investment attraction and collaboration with major accelerators in key startup hubs across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.