Creating an AI Healthcare Global Innovation Zone in Gangwon... Aiming to Foster 'Unicorns'

Explanation of this content at the Minsheng Discussion on the 11th
Final designation plan within the first half of the year

An artificial intelligence (AI) healthcare global innovation special zone will be established in Gangwon. The government has announced plans to nurture unicorn companies through this initiative.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 19th "Public Livelihood Discussion with the People" held on the 11th at the Gangwon Provincial Government Annex in Chuncheon, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, under the theme "Making Livelihoods Happy, the Power of Gangwon!" Photo by Yonhap News.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced this on the 11th during the nineteenth public discussion forum titled "Making Lives Happy, the Power of Gangwon!" held at the Gangwon Provincial Office.

The goal is to create an AI healthcare industry innovation demonstration ecosystem using globally standardized and secure data, and to nurture at least one unicorn company in this field. To achieve this, plans include establishing a medical big data platform, supporting decentralized clinical trials utilizing AI healthcare products, and collaborating with global certification bodies.

Last December, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups received applications from non-metropolitan local governments and selected regions expected to have significant economic ripple effects such as regulatory relief and securing global competitiveness in advanced fields through the establishment of special zones. Four candidates were selected: Gangwon, Busan (next-generation marine mobility), Chungcheongbuk-do (advanced regenerative bio), and Jeollanam-do (new energy industry).

According to the "Regional Special Zone Act," after local governments announce their special zone plans and gather public opinions, and based on inter-ministerial consultations for negative regulatory exemptions, the Regulatory Free Special Zone Committee will review and approve the plans. The global innovation special zone is scheduled to be officially designated within the first half of this year.

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