Wando-gun Accelerates International Cooperation Research Project on Marine Bio

Joint Research and Development Project with France Roscoff Marine Biological Laboratory

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 8th that it held a progress report meeting on the international joint technology development project ‘EUREKA’ using seaweed on the 7th.

EUREKA is the world's largest international joint research and development consortium involving 46 countries centered in Europe. The county is promoting research on marine bio and acquisition of new technologies with its technology partner, the Roscoff Marine Biological Station in France.

The report meeting was conducted with a presentation by Professor Kim Kwang-hoon of Kongju National University titled ‘Research on Dementia Prevention and Treatment Using Wando Seaweed Hizikia fusiformis (Tot)’ and mutual discussions on the promotion plan of the international joint technology development project.

Professor Kim Kwang-hoon emphasized, “The efficacy of Tot against dementia has been comprehensively verified through animal experiments,” and added, “It is necessary to develop dietary supplements and foods for dementia prevention and delaying the onset in early patients by utilizing the functional components of Tot.”

Wando-gun plans to jointly participate in the international joint technology development project with the Roscoff Marine Biological Station, the largest marine bio research institute in France, and transfer technology of industrialized materials developed through functional research of seaweed to marine bio companies.

In October last year, the county signed a memorandum of understanding with the Roscoff Marine Biological Station to cooperate in joint participation in the international joint technology development project and exchange of marine bio-related research technologies and companies.

In May, Wando-gun organized a joint research group involving domestic academia-industry-research and the Roscoff Marine Biological Station, and is currently promoting three research projects.

The research projects include commercialization research for dementia prevention using Wando Tot extract, development of dementia prevention pharmaceuticals, and development of natural animal feed based on brown algae. If selected as a final research project, research funding of up to 1.5 billion KRW over three years will be provided.

Through the international joint technology development project, which is the only one promoted by Wando-gun among local governments, it is expected to secure advanced overseas technology and establish a foothold for entering not only the domestic market but also overseas markets in the future.

Governor Shin Woo-cheol said, “Seaweed has various functionalities and has very high value as a bioindustry material,” and added, “We will do our best to foster the marine bioindustry specialized in seaweed by securing excellent bio-technology through cooperation with overseas research institutions.”

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