Samcheok City Visits France and Belgium to Accelerate ‘Heavy Ion Accelerator Cluster’ Initiative

Samcheok City Secures Heavy Ion Technology in Europe
Accelerating the Establishment of a Medical Industry Cluster

Samcheok City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Park Sangsoo) has been conducting an official overseas business trip to France and Belgium for six days starting from the 7th, as part of efforts to advance the medical project for the coal industry transition area in Samcheok (Dogye).

The Samcheok City overseas business delegation visited France and Belgium from the 7th for a six-day schedule to receive explanations about the heavy ion accelerator. Provided by Samcheok City

Kwon Jeongbok, Chairman of the Samcheok City Council, accompanied the delegation on this overseas trip. Following the government’s preliminary feasibility study approval for the “Advanced Accelerator-Based Medical Industry Cluster Project” on August 20, the visit was organized to broaden the selection of particle accelerator equipment (including heavy ion accelerators) and to secure technological diversity.

In particular, the main objectives of this trip are to explore the potential for collaboration with companies, industries, and universities possessing particle therapy technology, and to devise strategies for building a medical industry cluster that links technology, industry, and education.

On the 8th, the delegation received a briefing on NHA’s heavy ion therapy project underway in Caen, Normandy, France. Subsequently, Mayor Park Sangsoo gave a presentation to NHA headquarters representatives outlining the direction of Samcheok City’s “Advanced Accelerator-Based Medical Industry Cluster Project.”

After the presentation, the delegation visited the construction site of the heavy ion therapy system to check the progress and held in-depth discussions on ways to apply relevant technical and operational solutions to Dogye in Samcheok.

Samcheok City (Mayor Park Sangsoo) has been visiting France and Belgium for six days since the 7th to examine the heavy ion accelerator. Photo by Samcheok City

The delegation also met with representatives from the University of Caen (Carine, Siamaak), the Normandy region (Sophie Gaugain), and the Caen la mer urban community (Dominique Goutte) to review city models where medical, industrial, and educational sectors are organically connected.

During the remainder of the trip, the Samcheok City delegation plans to visit particle therapy technology companies such as Probent in Normandy and Graux in Belgium to thoroughly analyze the governance structure of medical platforms. The delegation will also visit the headquarters of IBA in Belgium, a global manufacturer of particle accelerator equipment, to continue discussions on cooperation for building a heavy ion therapy system.

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