Gyeongbuk Technopark and Hybrid Research Institute to 'Integrate' in First Half ... Similar Functions and Overlapping Investments

Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 23rd that the integrated corporation of Gyeongbuk Technopark and Gyeongbuk Hybrid Parts Research Institute, affiliated institutions under the province, will be launched in the first half of this year.

This integration is the result of the ‘Local Public Institution Innovation Guidelines’ announced as a national agenda and the ‘Public Institution Structural Reform Plan of Gyeongsangbuk-do in the 8th Local Government Term.’

Gyeongbuk Technopark is holding a board meeting for integration with the Hybrid Parts Research Institute.

Gyeongbuk Province decided to integrate Technopark and Hybrid Parts Research Institute, which were classified as similar institutions based on the analysis of the functions of the institutions subject to integration and each institution, conducted to improve the operational efficiency of industrial sector affiliated institutions. A task force was formed among related organizations, and after several consultations, the integration plan was finalized.

To promote the integration, the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council passed the ‘Ordinance on Support for Gyeongsangbuk-do Industrial Technology Complex’ amendment ordinance in full on December 20 last year.

With the dissolution resolution of the Hybrid Parts Research Institute’s dissolution board on the 10th and the Technopark board’s approval of the integration plan on the 22nd, only the remaining legal procedures such as dissolution and liquidation for the launch are left.

Gyeongbuk Technopark, established in 1998 as the first technopark nationwide, has established itself as a hub institution for fostering industry and enterprises in the Gyeongbuk region, based on 20 years of experience in discovering promising technologies and nurturing small and strong enterprises, becoming a regional innovation growth base institution.

Gyeongbuk Hybrid Parts Research Institute was established in 2007 to conduct research and development and improve technology in the advanced parts and materials industry. It contributes to securing the technological competitiveness of local companies by expanding infrastructure related to advanced industries and supporting enterprises.

However, there have been criticisms that the two institutions have similar corporate support service projects such as research and development, testing, certification, and evaluation support for small and medium-sized enterprises based on technological innovation.

Recently, inefficiencies in R&D investment have emerged due to overlapping investments in key growth industries such as future cars and lightweight materials industries.

Accordingly, Gyeongbuk Province plans to strengthen the regional industrial hub function by integrating the Hybrid Parts Research Institute centered on Technopark and reorganizing the organization.

Gyeongbuk Province expects to create synergy that strengthens the regional industrial ecosystem through the combination of Gyeongbuk Technopark, which has strengths in industrial policy planning and support programs for each stage of corporate growth, and the Hybrid Parts Research Institute, which has strong advanced industry infrastructure and research functions such as lightweight material development.

Along with this, after the integration of the two institutions, the organization will be reorganized by industry such as future mobility, secondary batteries, and bio to strengthen expertise in each field, and technology development, industrial ecosystem construction, and regulatory innovation will also be promoted together.

In addition, it will actively support diversifying key industries and creating future new technologies through the development of advanced materials and parts, which are essential for securing national advanced strategic technology competitiveness.

To prevent confusion due to the integration, Gyeongbuk Province has arranged for all assets, rights, and obligations to be comprehensively succeeded by Gyeongbuk Technopark.

For the first two years, the organizational system of business departments will be maintained as is, excluding overlapping personnel in management support and corporate support, to ensure that ongoing projects proceed without disruption.

In the future, after an organizational diagnosis service by a professional institution, it will be completely reorganized into an organization based on future industry demand.

Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “The expectations and demands of residents for the public sector are increasing, and the role of affiliated institutions has a significant impact on the region. In particular, through the integration of industrial sector affiliated institutions, we will systematically foster specialized industries with high growth potential and future strategic industries, and actively support Technopark to become a specialized institution for regional industrial development.”

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