Wando-gun Establishes Korea's First Seaweed Bioefficacy Demonstration Center

Selected for Seaweed-Based Biohealthcare Efficacy Material Demonstration Support Project Competition

Exterior view of the Marine Biology Research and Education Center at Chosun University, where the Seaweed Bioefficacy Demonstration Center will be established (Photo by Wando-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Shin Woo-cheol) announced on the 26th that it has been finally selected for the ‘Seaweed-based Biohealthcare Efficacy Material Demonstration Support’ project organized by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

This project is a research-based demonstration support system establishment project that supports the efficacy and standardization processes required during certification procedures such as those by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, to help companies without research evaluation systems commercialize their products.

Led by the Chosun University Marine Biology Research and Education Center, 10 research institutions are participating to establish demonstration equipment for efficacy materials and to promote the development and commercialization of biohealthcare materials derived from seaweed.

From this year until 2024, a total of 16 billion KRW (10 billion KRW national funds, 5 billion KRW local funds, 1 billion KRW from research institutions) will be invested to build Korea’s first seaweed bio-efficacy demonstration center at the Chosun University Marine Biology Research and Education Center in Sinji-myeon, Wando-gun.

Currently, for the industrialization of marine bio materials, efficacy demonstration at the level required by demand sectors must precede; however, due to unresolved efficacy demonstration issues, related companies remain at the level of simple processing of raw materials.

Through this project, it is expected that support for companies facing difficulties in demonstration will lead to the high value-added utilization of seaweed through the development of high value-added marine bio products and establish a foundation for fostering various bio companies within the region.

Kim Chun-sung, Director of the Chosun University Marine Biology Research and Education Center, said, “To utilize seaweed as a high value-added functional material, it is essential to set material standards through raw material standardization and to demonstrate functionality and safety. Through this project, we will establish a platform for seaweed efficacy evaluation and material development necessary for companies’ commercialization.”

The county plans to build a Marine Bio Joint Cooperation Research Institute in the Sinji-myeon Marine Bio Research Complex next year, providing research spaces equipped with joint laboratories for 10 corporate research institutes and 30 startups.

Also, by 2023, a total of 25 billion KRW will be invested to establish a ‘Seaweed Bioactive Material Production Facility’ to supply bio raw materials necessary for marine bio companies using various seaweeds produced in Wando.

With the establishment of various marine bio research and production infrastructures by the county, it is expected that full-cycle support for the marine bio industry?from research and development of marine bio materials to product production?will be possible.

Governor Shin Woo-cheol said, “With this selection, we have secured essential research infrastructure for marine bio companies. We will do our best to foster the seaweed-specialized marine bio industry as a future representative industry, creating high value-added seaweed products and good jobs to revitalize the local economy.”

Meanwhile, in January, the government announced a strategy to preoccupy the global marine bio market, planning to focus on developing the southern sea region centered on Wando as a supply base for seaweed-based bio materials. This is expected to further accelerate the seaweed-specialized marine bio industry, which Wando-gun is prioritizing.

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