Editage, the flagship brand of Cactus Communications (CACTUS), successfully concluded the inaugural edition of the Editage Grant program in South Korea. The event was held on December 13, 2024, at Kensington Hotel in Seoul. This program is designed to provide financial assistance to young researchers aspiring to make an impact on society through their research.
Researchers often face challenges during the early stages of their career, and insufficient financial resources can cause hindrance in achieving their career goals. In 2024, the Editage Grant program was launched in South Korea, and it witnessed enthusiastic participation, with over 370 researchers applying. Submissions were reviewed by a distinguished selection committee comprising faculty members from renowned institutions.
1st Place: 10 million won to one recipient
Winner: Dohwan Lee (topic: Redefining point-of-care diagnostic devices)
2nd Place: 3 million won each to four recipients
Winners: Joohoon Kim (topic: Mass production and application of meta surfaces), Yongdeok Ahn (topic: Light, electrode and nano), Jongmin Bae (topic: Development of general-purpose AI semiconductors), Yun Lim (topic: TLR4-based colon cancer treatment)
3rd Place: 1 million won each to five recipients
Winners: Minseop Lee (Topic: Development of sodium battery electrode materials), Minsu Park (topic: low-cost shunt monitoring), Soyeon Won (topic: Controlling inflammation through ectosomes), Yun Ha Hur (topic: Stem cells and tissue regeneration), Soo-Ho Jo (topic: Development of META medical ultrasound technology)
Additionally, participants who submitted completed applications and essays received a one-year subscription to the Editage Plus which gives them access to professional services and AI tools such as graphical abstracts, academic writing support, research and scientific illustration, literature recommendation, and journal search.
Makoto Yuasa, Chief Growth Officer, Research Solutions, at Cactus Communications, commented, “We are thrilled by the exceptional response to the inaugural edition of the Editage Grant program in South Korea. At CACTUS, we remain committed to supporting young researchers as they navigate the challenges in their academic journey. We look forward to continuing this initiative annually to empower researchers and contribute towards the advancement of the scientific research ecosystem.”
The Editage Grant program is being held in Japan since 2012. The most recent edition in Japan concluded in September 2024. Editage aims to extend the initiative to other geographies.