Revision of the 'Industry-Academic Cooperation Act'... Full-Scale Industry-Academic-Research Collaboration at Incheon Global Campus Universities

Korea State University of New York Conducts AI and Big Data Specialized Domestic and International Research Projects
Korea George Mason University Collaborates with Domestic Industry and US Campus Researchers on Joint Projects
Ghent University Provides Bio Education Opportunities and Develops High-Value Substances Using Seaweed
University of Utah Promotes Establishment of 'Medical Innovation Center' and Launches 'Global Citizen' Development Program

Incheon Global Campus View [Photo by Incheon Economic Promotion Agency]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] With the revision and enforcement of the "Act on Promotion of Industry-Academy Education and Industry-Academy Cooperation," which includes foreign universities as industrial education institutions starting this September, industry-academia-research cooperation among foreign universities located at Incheon Global Campus is gaining momentum.

According to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority on the 16th, the first foreign university to open at Incheon Global Campus in 2012, SUNY Korea, was the first to establish an industry-academia cooperation foundation and began research activities.

SUNY Korea Stony Brook University (SBU) plans to conduct research projects in collaboration with Incheon City involving professors and researchers from the Departments of Computer Science, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, and Mechanical Engineering.

The Department of Business Administration aims to activate the startup center to promote job creation, while the Department of Technology Management specializes in the convergent education field of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) and is pushing to establish a global-level education system through pilot projects.

SUNY Korea Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is planning educational programs related to marketing and product development starting next year, aiming to globalize the fashion industry in the Incheon region.

George Mason University Korea plans to launch its industry-academia cooperation foundation by the end of this month, aiming to become a global hub institution conducting joint projects with domestic industries, U.S. campus researchers, and surrounding industrial organizations.

The university already has established research centers linked to its U.S. campus's Graduate School of Public Policy, including the Security Policy Research Institute and the Asia Peace and Conflict Studies Center, facilitating active academic exchanges among domestic and international researchers centered around these centers.

Additionally, through its Office of External Cooperation, it operates various field education programs for the National Human Resources Development Institute, Incheon Talent Development Institute, Yeonsu-gu Lifelong Education Center, middle and high schools in the Incheon area, and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Ghent University Global Campus is also promoting industry-academia cooperation by signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with domestic and international companies, universities, and research institutions in line with the legal revision.

Starting from the spring semester next year, it will provide employees of Charles River Laboratories Korea with educational opportunities to acquire the latest scientific knowledge and technologies related to biotechnology, and plans to expand this to other companies and institutions within the "Songdo Bio Cluster," contributing to the development of the domestic bio industry.

In addition, it is collaborating with Incheon Jaeneung University on bakery production and sales, and has developed a Makgeolli prototype using domestic seaweed materials in partnership with Incheon Takju Co., Ltd.

The University of Utah Asia Campus is promoting the establishment of the "Asia Medical Innovation Center." The center plans to introduce startup education and master's programs specialized in advanced bio startups and biomedical fields, as well as support FDA approval to facilitate the overseas expansion of the domestic medical industry.

This university was selected this year for the "Youth Global Citizenship Camp for Sustainable Development," a project under the Education Internationalization Special Zone in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, and is also engaging in community capacity building and fostering global citizens to lead the era of internationalization.

Incheon Global Campus Photo by Incheon Economic Promotion Agency

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority expects these movements by each university to elevate the Incheon Free Economic Zone as a hub for industry-academia-research cooperation and act as a new driving force leading Incheon to innovative growth. As of September this year, a total of about 3,100 students are enrolled across five foreign universities at Incheon Global Campus.

Lee Wonjae, head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, stated, "Taking advantage of the revision of the related law, we will support foreign universities with excellent human resources and technology to establish themselves as innovative platforms for industry-academia-research cooperation and lead the development of Incheon."

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