Naju-si Discusses Energy Cluster Development with Korea Energy University

Discussions have begun to create an energy-specialized industry-academia-research cluster centered around the Korea Energy Technology University (hereinafter KENTECH), located in the Gwangju-Jeonnam joint (Naju Bitgaram) Innovation City.

Naju City, Jeonnam Province, announced on the 19th that it recently signed a business agreement with Jeonnam Province, KENTECH, and Jeonnam Development Corporation to promote the 'KENTECH Energy Cluster Development' project.

This agreement includes mutual cooperation matters for the successful establishment of the KENTECH Energy Cluster, which is part of the basic plan for KENTECH's establishment.

The KENTECH Energy Cluster is planned to be developed by 2030 on a 400,000㎡ site in Songnim-ri, Sanpo-myeon, Naju.

Based on the excellent human resources and advanced technology research outcomes produced by KENTECH, the project aims to promote the concentration of companies and research institutes, expand research and development infrastructure, and increase startup opportunities, thereby transforming Bitgaram Innovation City into a 'global energy hub' attracting world-class energy research talents.

In particular, it plans to establish research spaces linked to KENTECH's core research fields, demonstration spaces aiming to be a world-class energy test field, and startup spaces for unicorn energy companies, playing a key role as a core base leading the development of the national energy new industry at a global level.

Additionally, active efforts will be made to attract national large-scale research facilities such as the Artificial Sun Engineering Research Institute and the Ultra-High-Power Laser Research Facility.

Through the agreement, Jeonnam Development Corporation, the cluster development implementer, has started a feasibility study and plans to elaborate detailed business plans based on it.

The KENTECH Energy Cluster is also expected to have a positive impact on the designation of the Opportunity Development Special Zone centered on the new energy industry, which Naju City is prioritizing.

The Opportunity Development Special Zone is an area that provides exceptional benefits such as tax reductions and deregulation to companies relocating or investing in provincial areas.

Upon designation, innovative regulatory exemptions will be applied, including rapid confirmation of regulatory status for companies and research institutes, demonstration exceptions, temporary permits, and removal of physical regulations.

Naju City plans to leverage the concentrated industry-academia-research infrastructure, including relocated public institutions in the Innovation City and Korea Energy Technology University, to discover a differentiated special zone model from other regions.

Furthermore, a practical task force for attracting the special zone has been formed, and together with the RE100-centered Energy Policy Advisory Committee launched last year, they are working on establishing a basic plan for designation and concretizing strategies to attract anchor and related companies and research institutes.

Yoon Byung-tae, Mayor of Naju, said, “Through the establishment of the KENTECH Energy Cluster and the designation of the Opportunity Development Special Zone, we will lead the development of the new energy industry and create an energy capital where energy talents gather. It is a time when active interest and cooperation from the government, KEPCO, Jeollanam-do, and Korea Energy Technology University are needed for the development of the national new energy industry.”

Naju = Kim Yuk-bong, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy bless4ya@asiae.co.kr

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