Final Selection of 'Gangso Research and Development Special Zone' as a Stepping Stone for Gunsan's Economic Rebound

Research and Development Special Zone Committee Reviews and Approves Designation of Six Small but Strong Special Zones

Gunsan City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hong Jaehee] Gunsan City, Jeonbuk, has been finally selected as a Small Giant R&D Special Zone by the Ministry of Science and ICT, giving a boost to the eco-friendly electric vehicle parts and materials industry.

According to the city on the 27th, the 34th R&D Special Zone Committee of the Ministry of Science and ICT reviewed designation requests from seven metropolitan cities and provinces submitted last September, and after expert committee evaluations, finally deliberated and approved the designation of six Small Giant Special Zones, including Gunsan.

With this R&D Special Zone designation, Gunsan City has laid the groundwork for a second leap forward by commercializing technology in the field of ‘eco-friendly electric vehicle parts and materials’ and utilizing excellent hinterland conditions such as the Saemangeum Industrial Complex.

The Small Giant Special Zone is a new R&D special zone model that fosters a small-scale, high-density intensive space centered on core technology institutions such as universities and research institutes with excellent innovation capabilities.

Once designated as a Small Giant Special Zone, benefits such as ▲national R&D funding support ▲tax reductions on corporate and income taxes for resident companies ▲simplification of permit procedures ▲reductions in various development charges are provided, and it is also expected to create a convergence startup ecosystem and generate quality jobs.

The city, facing difficulties due to the successive shutdowns and closures of large factories, judged that designation as an R&D-based Small Giant Special Zone was urgently needed, and promptly formed a T/F team to develop response strategies and prepared steadily.

Also, in 2018, the city established the first dedicated organization nationwide, the ‘Small Giant Special Zone Division,’ revised ordinances on special provisions supporting high-tech companies under the Special Zone Act, and received high evaluations for creating an R&D-based manufacturing innovation growth ecosystem.

The Gunsan Small Giant Special Zone plans to establish the Eco-friendly Electric Vehicle Innovation Cluster (SEDA) in a 1.83㎢ hinterland area around Gunsan National Industrial Complex and Saemangeum Industrial Complex, with Gunsan University as the core technology institution.

Accordingly, the electric vehicle cluster development between Gunsan and Saemangeum, which Jeonbuk Province, Saemangeum Development Agency, and Gunsan City are focusing on as a future new growth engine, is expected to gain further momentum.

Mayor Kang Imjun said, “Upon taking office in the 7th local government, we spent long hours with local innovation actors to overcome the economic crisis and found the answer in promoting the designation of the Small Giant Special Zone,” adding, “We will support the operation of the special zone so that this rare message of hope to Gunsan citizens will not be in vain and create a solid industrial ecosystem through science and technology-based innovative growth.”

National Assembly member Shin Youngdae stated, “The R&D-based Small Giant Special Zone is an essential project for diversifying Gunsan’s industrial structure, which is experiencing employment and industrial crises,” and added, “With the designation of the Gunsan Small Giant Special Zone this time, we will continue to work together to foster the future new growth electric vehicle cluster in Gunsan at an early stage.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.