Jeongeup-si Selected for 'Regional Innovation Mega Project Contest'

Published 12 Apr.2023 13:31(KST)

Jeongeup City in Jeollabuk-do has been finally selected for the ‘2023 Regional Innovation Mega Project’ public contest supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Research & Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation.

According to the city on the 12th, this contest project was promoted to secure and commercialize future specialized core technologies that can contribute to creating new growth engines in the mid- to long-term in connection with local industries.

Jeongeup-si has been selected for the 'Regional Innovation Mega Project Contest' supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Research and Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation.
[Photo by Jeongeup-si]

Accordingly, the city will invest a total of 7.3 billion KRW over three years to carry out the project titled ‘Development of Agricultural and Life Science Materials for Veterinary Pharmaceuticals and Functional Feed.’

The core of this project is to solve animal disease problems through new drug development and drug repositioning for veterinary pharmaceuticals and the development of functional feed, and to support small-scale industries through the development of an open development platform.

In particular, through joint research and development with related companies, the project aims to transfer technology to local companies including those in Jeongeup City and strengthen industrial competitiveness by attracting companies, thereby revitalizing the region.

This project involves Jeongeup City, Jeollabuk-do Province, and Jeonbuk Technopark.

In addition, the project plans to maximize its effects by integrating the technologies and resources of local research institutions such as the Jeonbuk branch of the Safety Evaluation Research Institute, the Agricultural and Livestock Microbial Industry Promotion Support Center, the Korea Food Research Institute, the Jeonju Agricultural and Life Science Materials Research Institute, and Jeonbuk National University.

Also, research institute companies located in Jeongeup such as Hubet, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, HK Innoen, and Hanpoong Naturefarm will participate as joint research and development institutions to promote the project.

The city plans to accelerate the establishment of Jeongeup’s unique new pet healthcare industry ecosystem differentiated from other local governments by linking the ‘Regional Innovation Mega Project’ contest with the ‘Jeongeup City Companion Animal Industry Promotion Basic Plan.’

Mayor Lee Hak-su said, “I hope this project will make the city a mecca in the pet industry related to animals,” and added, “We will do our best to raise the city’s status as a leading city in the pet industry through cooperative links between local companies and local farms.”

Meanwhile, the Jeonbuk branch of the Safety Evaluation Research Institute, located in Sinjeong-dong Advanced Science Industrial Complex, was also selected in 2021 for a public contest project (24 billion KRW) to develop veterinary pharmaceuticals for companion animals using advanced technology and to establish a commercialization platform.