Naju-si Hosts 'Gangsso Research and Development Special Zone Vision Declaration Ceremony'

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) held the ‘Jeonnam·Naju Small Giant R&D Special Zone (hereinafter Small Giant Special Zone) Vision Proclamation Ceremony’ on the 11th at Hanbit Hall in the KEPCO headquarters, together with Jeonnam Province and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

The event was attended by about 70 people including Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do; Choi Ki-young, Minister of Science and ICT; Lee Won-wook, Chair of the Ministry of Science and ICT Committee; Mayor Kang In-gyu; Kim Jong-gap, President of KEPCO; Congressman Lee Yong-bin; and Kim Young-duk, Chair of Naju City Council.

The proclamation ceremony was organized to promote mutual cooperation and exchange among related organizations in industry, academia, research, and government to expand the R&D achievements of the Energy Valley Small Giant Special Zone and to commercialize technologies.

The ceremony proceeded with a welcome speech by KEPCO President Kim Jong-gap, commemorative speeches by Minister Choi Ki-young, Governor Kim Young-rok, and Mayor Kang In-gyu, followed by the Small Giant Special Zone vision presentation, nameplate delivery ceremony for the first and second research institute companies, and a vision pledge and ceremony.

The Small Giant Special Zone is a system that designates and fosters nearby areas as R&D hinterlands by using key technology institutions located in the region as bases, aiming to create an innovation growth platform based on science and technology.

The Jeonnam·Naju Small Giant Special Zone is the nation’s first ‘public enterprise-type R&D special zone’ designated by the Ministry of Science and ICT’s R&D Special Zone Committee in August last year.

The special zone includes a total area of 1.69 km² (510,000 pyeong), encompassing KEPCO as the core technology institution, the innovation city industry-academia-research cluster, the Energy New Technology Research Institute, and the Naju Innovation Industrial Complex.

The city plans to actively support technology commercialization and startups of institutions and companies located in the Energy Valley research complex through technology transfer of KEPCO’s technologies such as ‘intelligent solar power’ and ‘energy storage systems (ESS).’

KEPCO will assist in securing sales channels by prioritizing the purchase of products produced by these companies.

Companies residing in the Small Giant Special Zone receive tax benefits including reductions in corporate tax, income tax, acquisition tax, and property tax. They also enjoy benefits such as the establishment of research institute companies funded by KEPCO, participation in government technology commercialization R&D projects, national funding for various demonstration projects, and regulatory reforms.

The city expects that the designation of the special zone will create 3,130 jobs and generate an economic ripple effect worth 221.5 billion KRW by 2025.

Mayor Kang In-gyu said in his commemorative speech, “Through collaboration among industry, academia, research, and government for the successful promotion of the Small Giant Special Zone, we will strive to create a virtuous cycle from technology and startups to growth for companies with innovative capabilities and to elevate Naju as a global energy new industry hub. We will actively support securing sales channels for small but promising companies, linking supply and demand in the energy industry, and performing the role of a platform.”

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