Background

Korean hospitals possess world-class medical personnel, technology, and clinical infrastructure. Leveraging accumulated clinical experience, they are well-positioned to plan research in areas lacking existing treatments and to develop and validate technologies needed in clinical settings. However, hospitals' excessive reliance on clinical revenue and inadequate external collaboration systems have been identified as limitations. Consequently, the ROK government launched the Research-Oriented Hospital initiative to leverage hospitals' strengths and support basic research and commercialization in the healthcare sector.

What is the Research-Oriented Hospital Initiative?

This initiative designates and nurtures hospitals with outstanding research capabilities as "Research-Oriented Hospitals." It aims to promote changes in the hospital research environment, enhance the outcomes of healthcare R&D, and ultimately contribute to improving the health of the public, the end users.

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The Concept of Research-Oriented Hospital

A hospital that serves as the main pillar for Health Technology Innovation (HT Innovation), establishing a virtuous cycle encompassing "R&D – Intermediary/Clinical Research - Commercialization - Product Development - Clinical Practice" to advance medical services and enhance healthcare quality

• To build an open convergence research infrastructure involving industry, academia, and research institutes, 21 medical institutions* with research capabilities have been certified as research-oriented hospitals (March 2025, based on the Health Technology Promotion Act).

* Gachon University Gil Hospital, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, CHA Bundang Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Ajou University Hospital, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Severance Hospital, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Inha University Hospital, Chonnam National University Hospital, Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital

Project Structreure (Implementation Framework)

A two-stage system: First, system transformation (certification program) followed by R&D support (fostering program)

• 1 Certification Program (Track 1): Certify hospitals with outstanding research capabilities as research-oriented hospitals to transition from a clinical-centered structure to a balanced clinical-research system
• 2 Development Program (Track 2): Enhance practical policy effectiveness by supporting HT R&D in research-oriented hospitals' key research areas