Pohang City Fosters Food Tech Industry... Leading as a Global Future City

Addressing Climate Crisis and Food Security, Actively Fostering Growth Engine Food Tech Industry

Establishing Sustainable City Model Centered on Advanced Technologies like Food Tech

Pohang City is focusing its administrative efforts on preparing for the city's future and strengthening global competitiveness through the promotion of the food tech industry.

The inauguration ceremony of the Korea Food Tech Association Gyeongbuk Daegu Branch held at Change Up Ground in May. Provided by Pohang City

Food tech is the next-generation growth engine to address climate crises and food security issues. Pohang is advancing various projects to establish itself as a global hub in this field, including the establishment of a Food Tech Research Support Center, creation of an alternative food ecosystem, operation of a Food Tech Learning Center, and fostering of the blue food industry.

The Food Tech Research Support Center was selected in April this year as the first nationwide project in the food robotics sector through a public contest by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, visualizing Pohang’s innovative achievements as a food tech industry city.

The Food Tech Research Support Center will complete basic and detailed designs by the first half of next year and is planned to be completed in 2026 with a total project cost of 15.5 billion KRW, located in the Heunghae-eup area.

The center will play a role in resolving technical difficulties faced by food robotics companies through data analysis, demonstration testing, and global certification support, as well as supporting research and commercialization.

In particular, it is expected to enhance the competitiveness of food robotics companies and promote the digital transformation of the dining industry, contributing not only to alleviating labor shortages in the food service sector but also to revitalizing the local economy. Furthermore, upon completion, the center is anticipated to become a key hub for the globalization of the K-food industry.

Additionally, the city has collaborated with the Gyeongbuk Research Institute this year to establish a roadmap for fostering the blue food tech industry, and from next year, it will actively nurture advanced food material industries including blue food tech in cooperation with related organizations.

These industries are expected to significantly contribute to Pohang’s establishment as a future food industry city by linking with marine tourism.

Moreover, the city opened the Food Tech Learning Center at the Pohang Dream Tree Center last September as a base to nurture local talent and support digital transformation.

The learning center provides customized education for various groups such as youth and the elderly, offering programs on food tech robot coding and food tech promotion to expand public consensus.

It also serves as a hub connecting local food (dining) companies with advanced industries, guiding local food business owners toward high-tech fields and promoting the digitalization of the industry, including the creation of smart dining streets. The learning center is currently in pilot operation and will enter full operation from next year.

Based on this infrastructure, the city plans to establish itself as a sustainable urban model centered on advanced technology through research and development (R&D), startup cultivation, talent development, and expansion of global networks.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok stated, “Food tech is not merely about solving food supply issues but is a core technology to address global challenges such as food security and the climate crisis,” adding, “Pohang will leverage this as a stepping stone to leap forward as a leading advanced future city representing South Korea together with its citizens.”

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