Pohang City Accelerates Creation of Future 'Advanced Bio' Hub... Secures 48.8 Billion Won in National Funding

Ministry of Science and ICT Innovation Research Center Contest, Sole Selection in 'Advanced Bio' Field

POSTECH Gains Momentum for Hosting 'Research-Oriented Medical School' and Designation as 'Bio Specialized Complex'

Mayor Lee Gang-deok: "C

On the 25th, Pohang City announced that the advanced bio field of Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) was finally selected in the national competition for the Innovation Research Center (IRC) by the Ministry of Science and ICT, securing 48.8 billion KRW in national funding.

The Innovation Research Center (IRC) was newly established this year by the Ministry of Science and ICT as a new project for leading research centers to create innovation outcomes in 12 national strategic technologies centered on universities, the main actors of basic research, and to establish a world-class research hub.

Overview of the Selection for the 'Bio Future Technology Innovation Research Center (IRC)' Competition.

Accordingly, Pohang City and POSTECH participated in the competition in the advanced bio field, and after the first expert discussion evaluation, the second online video presentation evaluation, and the third on-site presentation evaluation, three universities were finally selected out of 21 universities after fierce competition. Pohang was the only one selected in the advanced bio field (gene and cell therapy) among the 12 national strategic technologies.

Gene and cell therapy technology in the advanced bio field, which will lead the future growth of Korea, is attracting attention as a fundamental treatment alternative for intractable diseases with high medical demand. The global gene and cell therapy market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of about 49.1%, from approximately 7.47 billion USD in 2021 to about 55.59 billion USD in 2026.

Through this competition selection, Pohang City plans to lead Korea’s bio transformation and establish a world-class core research hub by solving the global core challenges in the gene and cell therapy field over the next 10 years with a total project cost of 57.75 billion KRW (national funding of 48.75 billion KRW).

Through this project, led by Professor Yoo Ju-yeon (Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH), the top-level domestic research team will conduct joint research and promote ▲ sustainable operation of the Innovation Research Center ▲ support for open innovation R&D joint research ▲ operation of a biohealth technology commercialization advisory group and new industry technology commercialization ▲ provision of excellent research environment and settlement conditions.

In addition, by strengthening the international network through global industry-academia-research cooperation and presenting a successful internationalization model through joint research projects, the Pohang ‘Bio Future Technology Innovation Research Center’ is expected to make a strong leap as an open convergence research hub.

In particular, this competition selection is expected to further accelerate Pohang City’s key initiatives such as attracting a research-oriented medical school, building a smart hospital, and designating a bio national advanced strategic industry specialized complex. Linked to this, the realization of a world-class gene and cell therapy research hub and an innovative K-Bio Medical City Pohang will become more visible.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, “We will do our best to secure irreplaceable bio source technology leading national future development centered on Pohang and to create a Korean-style advanced bio cluster, realizing bio national security linked with the training of research-oriented medical schools and future-type physician scientists.”

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