Announcement of Preliminary Selection Results for Local Government and University Cooperation-Based Regional Innovation Project

The Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea announced the preliminary selection results for the ‘2023 Local Government-University Cooperation-Based Regional Innovation Project’ on the 27th.

This project supports universities and local governments to foster local talent needed in the region based on a partnership, aiming to develop local universities as the core of regional innovation.

Until last year, six regional innovation platforms were established in 11 provinces and cities, and with the addition of three platforms this year, approximately 488.6 billion KRW in budget will be invested.

This year, based on the project plan outline including core field selection, project implementation system composition, and project plan establishment and management measures, a selection evaluation was conducted, and three new regions?Busan Platform (single type), Jeonbuk Platform (single type), and Jeju Platform (single type)?were preliminarily selected. The final selection results are planned to be confirmed early next month.

Detailed project plans will be established through joint design and coordination (Co-Design) among the Ministry of Education, local governments, and universities.

All three newly preliminarily selected platforms are expected to have their general operation centers under non-profit corporations managed by local governments, enabling local governments to lead the development of regional talent.

First, the Busan Platform selected core fields (smart port logistics, eco-friendly smart ships, clean energy convergence parts and materials) linked to the ‘7 Major Strategic Industry Development Strategies’ to expand youth employment and increase youth settlement rates.

Next, the Jeonbuk Platform selected core fields (future transportation equipment, new energy industries, agricultural life bio) linked to the ‘Jeollabuk-do 4th Comprehensive Plan’ to promote innovative talent development and regional innovation through four major innovations in manpower, technology, industry, and community.

Finally, the Jeju Platform selected core fields (clean bio, green energy and future mobility, intelligent services) to achieve core field talent development and increase youth settlement rates through JOY (Jeju One universitY) shared university.

Gu Yeon-hee, Director of Regional Talent Policy at the Ministry of Education, said, “We expect the three platforms participating this time to contribute to establishing local universities as hubs of regional innovation based on the partnership between universities and local governments,” adding, “The Ministry of Education will also support building regional talent development systems tailored to local conditions and characteristics.”

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