[대전창업온라인 매니저]

창업기업홍보

게재일: 2026 년 6월

한글원문 링크: 연구실과 현장을 연결해 빛의 한계를 측정하다 ’㈜큐라드

대전시에서 운영하는 '대전창업온라인'에 QRAD 이동훈 대표의 창업 경험과 기업 비전에 대한 인터뷰가 게재되었다.
인터뷰에서는 창업을 결심하게 된 계기부터 QRAD의 핵심 기술, 창업 과정에서의 도전과 배움, 그리고 앞으로의 비전까지 총 10문 10답 형식으로 소개한다.

인터뷰의 한글 원문은 링크에서 확인할 수 있고, 영문 번역본은 본 페이지에서 확인할 수 있다.

An interview with Dr. Dong-Hoon Lee, CEO of QRAD, has been featured on Daejeon Startup Online, a platform operated by the Daejeon Metropolitan Government.

In this 10-question interview, Mr. Lee shares his entrepreneurial journey, the motivation behind founding QRAD, the company's core technologies, the challenges and lessons of building a startup, and his vision for the future.

The original interview in Korean is available through the link above, and an English translation is provided on this page.

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Q1. Please introduce QRAD.

QRAD is a deep-tech startup founded by researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS). We provide advanced solutions for measuring light intensity and brightness. Since our establishment in November 2022, we have built a team of seven physicists dedicated to developing innovative optical measurement technologies. Our headquarters is located in the KRISS Business Incubation Center, while our R&D activities are carried out at the Startup Growth Campus in Jeonmin-dong, Daejeon.

Q2. You worked at KRISS before founding QRAD. What inspired you to start the company?

During more than 20 years as a researcher, I saw that many researchers and companies needed the technologies we had developed. However, there was a gap between developing those technologies and delivering them as practical measurement solutions. Although we transferred our technologies to industry, long-term commercialization remained difficult, especially in a market dominated by a few global companies.

I realized there was a need for a bridge between research institutes and the people who need these technologies. Founding QRAD was my answer to that challenge. I believed that creating meaningful change required choosing challenge over stability.

 

Q3. What is QRAD's core technology? What makes your company stand out?

QRAD commercializes world-class optical power and radiometric measurement technologies developed at the KRISS. This technological foundation is our greatest strength and the core of the QRAD brand. Because KRISS is internationally recognized for its measurement standards and expertise, our customers trust not only our products but also the technology and expertise behind them. We believe this strong foundation of credibility is what sets QRAD apart.

 

Q4. What is your biggest challenge as a founder today?

In the early days, I had to learn almost everything from scratch—from administration and fundraising to recruiting. Thanks to startup support programs provided by the government and local organizations, I was able to keep the company moving forward through those challenging early stages.

Today, my focus is on securing sustainable revenue while continuing to strengthen our R&D capabilities. My biggest challenge is preparing to become independent after our incubation period at KRISS. I now need to build a sustainable business that can continue to grow on its own.

 

Q5. What has been the most difficult decision you've had to make as a CEO?

One of the toughest moments came during testing of our first radiometer prototype. We discovered that a custom optical sensor degraded over time due to unexpected oxidation, making it impossible to meet our planned launch schedule. Although generating revenue was critical at the time, I decided not to release a product that had not been fully validated.

Fortunately, around the same time, opportunities in quantum technology expanded. Building on technologies licensed from KRISS, we shifted our focus toward quantum sensing and successfully secured government R&D projects and investment. Looking back, what first seemed like a setback became a turning point that led us into a more promising field. At the same time, we have continued improving our radiometer technology.

 

Q6. What value or principle helps you stay grounded as a leader?

One value I always try to hold onto is flexibility of mind. By flexibility, I don't mean simply being easygoing. I mean staying open to new ideas and avoiding rigid thinking or fixed assumptions. I believe this mindset allows us to keep learning, admit our mistakes, and adapt when unexpected challenges arise.

To me, this kind of flexibility is one of the qualities that defines being young. Although I may be entering middle age physically, I hope to stay young in the way I think. (Laughs)

 

Q7. What was the most difficult lesson you learned during your startup journey, and how has it shaped you as an entrepreneur?

Before starting the company, I thought I was well prepared. I attended entrepreneurship programs, read books, and learned from experienced founders. But once I started the business, I quickly realized that real experience was very different. I faced unexpected challenges, made mistakes, and was repeatedly turned down for startup support programs.

Instead of giving up, I focused on improving through mentoring. After learning from those setbacks and trying again, I was finally selected for startup support programs. That experience taught me that every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. Those early challenges ultimately became the foundation of my growth as an entrepreneur.

Q8. Can you give us a sneak peek at what QRAD is working on next?

One of our key R&D areas is single-photon sources and detectors, which are essential components for quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communication. We also believe that advances in single-photon measurement technology will enable a new generation of measurement instruments beyond the limits of conventional systems.

One project we are particularly excited about is a medical diagnostic device that uses single-photon measurement technology to precisely measure extremely weak infrared radiation emitted by the human body. The underlying technology has already been patented by KRISS, and we plan to further develop it through technology transfer and future R&D.

 

Q9. What advice would you give to aspiring deep-tech entrepreneurs?

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to approach entrepreneurship as if you were learning a new language. As a researcher, I found that the world of business and investment had a very different way of thinking.

When learning a new language, you don't wait until you're perfect before you start speaking. You learn by trying, making mistakes, and improving along the way. I believe entrepreneurship is much the same. Don't be afraid to take the first step—grow through experience and find your own path.

 

Q10. What are your goals for this year, and what is QRAD's long-term vision?

Building on the momentum we gained last year, my top priority this year is to secure follow-on investment. That will allow us to accelerate the development of the new technologies and products we have been preparing.

In the long term, my goal is to make QRAD a globally recognized brand in optical measurement instruments. In every research field, there are trusted instrument brands that researchers rely on and confidently recommend to their colleagues. I want QRAD to become one of those brands—a company known for its technology, reliability, and measurement expertise, and the first choice for researchers around the world.