Gyeonggi-do Joins Hands with Industry-Academia-Research-Government Innovation Leaders to Lead Future Growth Industries

On the 5th, at the 2023 GAIA-day event held at the GH Opportunity Development Center (Pangyo Global Biz Center), Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province; Choi Jae-boong, Chairman of the Gyeonggi Industry-Academic Cooperation Council; Kim Jong-ha, Head of the Gyeonggi Regional Headquarters of the Korea Federation of SMEs; Kim Jeong-hoe, Vice Chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association; Lee Seung-gyu, Vice Chairman of the Korea Bio Association; and Na Seung-sik, President of the Korea Automotive Research Institute, posed for a commemorative photo.

Gyeonggi Province is forming a permanent consultative body with universities, associations, and research institutes related to six future growth industries, including digital transformation and semiconductors, to consolidate innovation capabilities between the province, universities, and companies.

On the 5th, Gyeonggi Province held the first event of the ‘2023 GAIA-day’ at the GH Opportunity Power Plant (Global Business Center 1st floor) located in Pangyo, and announced that it signed an ‘Agreement for the Development and Support of Future Growth Industries’ with the Gyeonggi Industry-Academia Cooperation Council, the Gyeonggi Regional Headquarters of the Korea Federation of SMEs, the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, the Korea Bio Association, the Korea Automotive Research Institute, the Gyeonggi Economic Science Promotion Agency, and the Next Generation Convergence Technology Institute.

According to the agreement, each organization will actively participate in strengthening and leading the competitiveness of future growth industries in six fields: digital transformation and information technology (IT), venture startups, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) big data, advanced mobility, and biohealth, through ▲ discovering and supporting industry-academia-research-government cooperation projects ▲ mutual policy exchange and expanded participation in provincial administration ▲ building and operating networks to expand and strengthen the base ▲ supporting talent development and nurturing.

GAIA stands for ‘Gyeonggi Academia-Industry Alliance,’ inspired by ‘Gaia,’ the earth goddess and mother of creation in Greek mythology, symbolizing that industry-academia cooperation is the starting point and source of innovation.

Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon said, "The South Korean economy is currently experiencing a short-term long-term stagnation phase, and structurally facing a decline in growth potential in the mid-to-long term. While thinking about how to overcome the economic crisis during the holiday, I reread Adam Smith’s book, and the hint was innovation and competitiveness improvement. Therefore, expectations for GAIA are high."

He added, "We need to meet once a month to create breakthroughs in the six fields of semiconductors, bio, AI big data, advanced mobility, digital transformation, and ventures. I hope we can discuss tangible needs. Please propose various ideas that can actually change economic activities. We will actively participate and support."

At the signing ceremony, Choi Jae-bung, chairman of the Gyeonggi Industry-Academia Cooperation Council, explained the necessity of industry-academia-research cooperation and presented the future direction for GAIA.

Participants chose advanced mobility as the theme for the first GAIA-day, presenting Gyeonggi Province’s mobility policy direction and mobility research projects, followed by a networking session among attendees.

Starting with this event, Gyeonggi Province plans to continuously hold GAIA-day, consisting of expert lectures, networking sessions, industry trend sharing, and policy meetings, to establish it as a regular exchange meeting for future growth industries and actively reflect the discussed opinions in provincial administration.

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