Twelve Daedeok Innopolis Research Institutes to Open on Weekends in Relay Format from April to October

Daejeon City and Twelve Daedeok Innopolis Research Institutes Sign "Weekend Opening" Agreement

Photo by Daejeon City

Twelve research institutes in Daedeok Innopolis will be open to the public on weekends in a relay format from April to October.

On March 16, Daejeon City announced that it held a signing ceremony for a 'Weekend Opening of Daedeok Innopolis Research Institutes' financial business agreement in the main conference room at City Hall, with the National Research Council of Science & Technology and twelve Daedeok Innopolis research institutes gathering to promote an open research environment and expand exchanges with the local community.

The 'Weekend Opening of Daedeok Innopolis Research Institutes' is a flagship science and culture program launched by Daejeon City in 2023 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Daedeok Innopolis. The program opens research sites to the public, allowing citizens to experience cutting-edge research achievements firsthand.

This year's weekend openings will run in a relay format by institute, starting with the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science in April and continuing through October. Each institute will host various programs such as laboratory tours, science experiences, and lectures reflecting their unique characteristics, providing opportunities to engage with citizens.

In particular, as the program enters its fourth year, Daejeon City plans to pilot weekday programs in cooperation with the Office of Education, targeting students from Dong-gu, Jung-gu, and Daedeok-gu—regions where participation has been relatively low for the past three years.

This program began in 2023 amid concerns over security and public safety, but the number of participating institutes has steadily increased each year. There were five participating institutes in 2023, eight in 2024, eleven in 2025, and this year, twelve institutes will take part.

Additionally, the proportion of visitors from outside the region has risen from 22.9% in 2023 to 31.6% in 2024 and 35.3% in 2025, further enhancing the reputation of Daejeon as the "Science Capital."

According to participant surveys, satisfaction remains high, with a re-participation intention rate of 96.4% and an increase in understanding of research institutes at 98.2% (with 49.6% of respondents previously answering "I don't know" in the pre-survey).

Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, stated, "I deeply appreciate the research institutes in Daedeok Innopolis for opening their sites to expand engagement with the local community. We will continue to work closely with the institutes to promote Daedeok Innopolis' world-class research capabilities and provide more opportunities for citizens to experience science culture."

This year's participating institutions include: Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, Korea Basic Science Institute, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp., Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Hankook Tire & Technology, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, and Korea Institute of Fusion Energy—a total of twelve institutions.

Participation in the program is available by reservation only, and citizens wishing to take part can apply through the Daejeon Science Tour website.

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