NIRSIT LITE

OBELAB

South Korea

The Birth and Evolution of Innovative fNIRS Technology The journey began at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), where Professor Hyeon-min Bae’s research team sought to make functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology more accessible and safer for brain disease research and various neuroscience applications. Leveraging their expertise in electrical engineering and optical technology, the team spent four years developing a specialized semiconductor tailored for fNIRS, which became the cornerstone of their portable brain imaging technology. In 2013, this vision led to the founding of OBELAB as a lab-based startup. After two additional years of intensive R&D, the company unveiled its first prototype in 2015. Since then, OBELAB has continuously refined its products through collaborative research with prominent domestic and international research teams. A major milestone was achieved in 2017 when OBELAB obtained Korea’s first medical device approval for an fNIRS device. Currently, the company collaborates with several university hospitals on clinical studies for conditions such as dementia, depression, and cerebral hemorrhage, while systematically accumulating critical brain-related data. In its early stages, fNIRS was primarily recognized as a research tool, presenting significant challenges in penetrating the medical market and establishing a new industry category. However, by integrating feedback from diverse industry experts and conducting rigorous market analysis with support from government agencies like KOTRA and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, OBELAB successfully defined its supply chain and promotional strategies. These efforts led to a successful product launch and market entry. Moving forward, OBELAB is committed to leading innovations in brain research and medical technology, providing the global market with more precise and reliable neuroimaging solutions.