[Column] Busan Innovation: From Chasing the Capital to Leading Regional Growth

Kim Youngbu, President of Busan Institute for the Advancement of Science and Technology Higher Education

In the recently announced 2025 Global Innovation Index (GII) by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), South Korea achieved its highest-ever ranking, placing 4th globally and 1st in Asia.

This is a result that should make every citizen proud. However, the situation at the regional level remains concerning.

The GII not only ranks countries but also evaluates global innovation cluster cities, assessing the real driving forces behind urban innovation. While Seoul, Daejeon, Busan, and Daegu were included, this year Daegu fell out of the top 100, and Busan's ranking dropped to 95th. In contrast, Seoul maintained its position in the top five, and Daejeon is solidifying its status as a research and development hub.

This is not simply because the regions have been negligent in their innovation efforts. Rather, it is the result of innovation being concentrated in the capital region due to a centralized, single-core structure. As the national innovation index rises, regional vitality is relatively weakening, which could impact the country's long-term competitiveness.

Busan is still evaluated as a growth-oriented innovation city. It ranks 4th nationwide in academic paper output, and both research infrastructure and the share of private investment are expanding. However, since these indicators still do not surpass the national average, it is urgent to establish a region-led innovation system.

The national research and development budget for 2026 has been set at a record high of 35 trillion won. For this massive investment to lead not just to research and development, but to tangible industrialization and commercialization outcomes, a shift to a region-centered innovation system is essential. Now is the time to establish a "national-regional linked research and development system" centered on regional innovation hubs such as Busan.

Busan must now move beyond being a follower city that simply emulates the capital region model, and transform into a creative innovation city based on its own industrial DNA. It should build an innovation value chain that connects industry-academia-research collaboration, technology finance, and startup investment on top of its specialized industries such as marine, energy, bio, and mobility. An IP-research and development linkage structure must take root, where academic papers lead to patents, and patents lead to startups and investment.

Three key tasks are essential to achieve this.

First, the structure of public research and development investment must be improved, shifting away from a focus on short-term results and expanding funds that connect basic and original research with demonstration and commercialization.

Second, institutionalizing industry-academia-research collaboration is necessary so that university research is connected to the needs of local industries.

Third, strategies for technology commercialization based on intellectual property must be strengthened to ensure that research outcomes are recycled into the regional economy and industry.

National innovation is not completed in the capital region alone; it is only truly realized when it is alive and thriving in the regions. If Busan leads this regional innovation, the overall innovation competitiveness of South Korea will also rise.

The heart of Busan's innovation now lies in the "circulation of research, technology, and capital." When the region itself creates and sustains the lifeblood of innovation, the nation can also secure sustainable growth. This is why Busan must lead the way.

BISTEP Director Youngbu Kim.

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