Research collaboration
University research support programme
AriBnC carries out functional ingredient, probiotic, human application study and regulatory dossier research at its Yongin head office laboratory and at the UNIST Research Institute (the UNIST site of our Corporate Affiliated Research Institute). This programme funds early-stage work in university laboratories, call by call, and brings with it the study design, biostatistics and EDC capability the company runs in its contract work. How to apply and how proposals are assessed are set out in each call.
About the programme
It connects early-stage university research with the research and regulatory resources AriBnC runs.
AriBnC is a KoNECT-registered CRO (April 2023) that runs drug trials, human application studies for health functional foods and medical device studies, and it also researches functional ingredients and designs regulatory dossiers. Its track record includes exploratory and confirmatory device trials, support for individually recognised ingredient filings, and support for US NDI notifications. This programme exists to connect the study design, biostatistics and regulatory experience accumulated in that work with early-stage research in university laboratories.
Support consists of research funding together with study design and biostatistics advice from the Yongin laboratory, shared experience in EDC build and operation and CRF design, and a review of data requirements in Korea and abroad.
The research is led by the university laboratory, with AriBnC taking part as an adviser or co-investigator. The form and scope of that participation are set out in the agreement signed with the university's industry-academic cooperation foundation.
Five research tracks
The five tracks below are the main ones; other health functional food development research is welcome too.
Functional ingredient efficacy research
In vitro activity, in vivo mechanism work, and review of marker compounds and analytical methods for candidate ingredients, with discussion centred on biomarker change in healthy people.
Ingredient researchTrack 2Probiotic strain research
Isolation and characterisation of probiotic strains, whole-genome sequencing, and functional assessment. Narrowing candidate strains against the characteristics of the Korean gut microbiome belongs to this track as well. What strains can be supplied is settled per project.
Our instituteTrack 3Human study design and biostatistics
Projects whose subject is protocol design, CRF design, EDC build and operation, or the statistical analysis plan. Discussion is anchored in the EDC build-and-operation procedure and CRF design experience the Yongin laboratory uses in its contract studies; where a study is actually to be conducted, prior steps such as IRB approval must come first.
HFF human studiesTrack 4Regulatory dossier design research
Research into what data a dossier requires, against Korea's MFDS, US FDA (GRAS, NDI), Health Canada's NNHPD (NHP/NPN), and EU novel food Regulation 2015/2283, health claims Regulation 1924/2006 and EFSA.
Regulatory scopeTrack 5AI-bio convergence research
Linked to ABCI, the AI-Bio Convergence Institute established in April 2026. Supports data and algorithm research, within the scope of a wellness information service, related to gut microbiome profile prediction and personalised probiotics (KR 10-2025-0108178, filed August 2025) and to estimating liver-health indicators from non-invasive lifelog data with health-behaviour recommendation (KR 10-2026-0099786, filed June 2026).
About ABCIWho can apply, and what is provided
The principal investigator must belong to a Korean university and be able to sign an agreement through its industry-academic cooperation foundation. There is no restriction by department or discipline, but the project must fall within one of the five tracks or other health functional food development research. Detailed eligibility follows the published call.
Selected projects receive funding together with advice from the staff of the Yongin laboratory. That advice covers protocol and CRF design, biostatistics and the statistical analysis plan, EDC build-and-operation procedure, and review of data requirements in Korea and abroad. The university laboratory conducts the experiments, interprets the results and manages research ethics.
- The amount of support, the project period, who signs the agreement and how the funds are paid are settled in the prior discussion and in the agreement.
- A project involving people starts only after IRB approval and the other prior steps are complete.
- Interim and final reporting points and the way accounts are settled are written into the agreement.
How to apply
Calls open as the need arises. How to apply is set out in each call.
- 01
Read the call
- The call states the funding amount, the project term and the closing date
- 02
Prepare the documents
- Research plan, principal investigator's CV, confirmation from the industry-academic cooperation foundation
- 03
Apply
- Apply in the way the call sets out.
- If something needs changing after submission, ask us within the application period.
- 04
Review
- We may ask follow-up questions or request a presentation if needed
- 05
Agreement and delivery
- Work starts after the agreement with the industry-academic cooperation foundation is signed
- Interim and final reporting, settlement and IP terms all follow the agreement
Frequently asked questions
Can a graduate student apply as principal investigator?
The principal investigator must be in a position to sign an agreement through the industry-academic cooperation foundation. The usual route is for the supervising professor to be the PI and the graduate student to be registered as a participating researcher.
Can we publish the results?
Yes. The notice you give before publishing, and how far in advance, follow what the agreement sets out.
What language are the call and the review conducted in?
Calls and review are conducted in Korean or English.
How often are calls opened?
Calls are issued as the need arises, and the schedule is posted on this page once it is fixed.
Ask before you apply
Ask us here about eligibility and scope. Please submit applications themselves as set out in the call.