Pohang City and Gyeongbuk Province Hold Practical Council for Talent Development in Secondary Battery Industry

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dong-guk Lee] Pohang City and Gyeongbuk Province held a working-level council on the 13th ahead of the business agreement ceremony for establishing an innovative secondary battery industrial ecosystem and fostering talent, collaborating with universities, high schools, and companies for customized workforce development.

On the 13th, Pohang City and Gyeongbuk Province held a working-level council meeting to discuss the establishment of a talent development system based on local industry.

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The business agreement ceremony for establishing an innovative secondary battery industrial ecosystem and fostering talent was held with the aim of securing a favorable position for attracting a secondary battery industry specialized complex, in line with the current government's intention to significantly transfer university support authority to local governments.

At this working-level council, as part of the joint effort to designate the Pohang secondary battery specialized complex, opinions were exchanged on building a talent development system based on the local industry with POSTECH, Handong University, Pohang University, Polytechnic University, Uiduk University, Jecheol Technical High School, Heunghae Technical High School, POSCO Chemical, EcoPro, Energy Materials, Mirae Ceratech, Haedong Engineering, Woojeon J&F, and others.

The attending company representatives expressed their commitment to strengthening regional industrial competitiveness and actively participating in revitalizing the employment of local talent. According to the agreement, universities and high schools will introduce customized educational programs to cultivate talent desired by companies, while Gyeongbuk Province and Pohang City will take on roles to support educational innovation and help talents settle in the region.

Gyeongbuk Province and Pohang City are competing to attract the secondary battery industry specialized complex by emphasizing their strengths in large-scale investment attraction, securing investment sites, and a region-led talent development system. In November last year, 30 organizations jointly launched the Gyeongbuk Secondary Battery Industry-Academia-Research-Industry Innovation Governance.

By providing opportunities to listen to various expert opinions as well as this working-level council, they plan to concretely and effectively implement the secondary battery talent development promotion plan. Previously, POSCO Chemical, EcoPro, and Pohang University signed an agreement to foster talent in the secondary battery field, leading regional industry-academia-government efforts to nurture professionals with expertise and capabilities.

This meeting is expected to further strengthen cooperation density for regional competitiveness and talent development in the secondary battery sector within the Yeongilman Industrial Complex and Blue Valley Industrial Complex. In particular, it is anticipated to boost momentum for attracting the ‘Pohang Secondary Battery Specialized Complex,’ which closes application submissions on February 27.

The Yeongilman Industrial Complex and Blue Valley Industrial Complex, the target sites for the secondary battery specialized complex, have established a cooperative ecosystem centered on leading companies, including large and small-medium enterprises, with investments totaling KRW 4.1634 trillion (based on MOUs) in the secondary battery raw materials, materials, and recycling sectors since their designation as a battery recycling regulatory free zone in 2019.

Pohang City expects that once the specialized complex is designated, large-scale investments will be made by joint ventures including secondary battery cell manufacturers and secondary battery material companies, and new employment will be created through production facility expansions.

Kwon Hyuk-won, Director of the Job Economy Bureau, said, “We will regularly hold strategic meetings on workforce development related to the secondary battery industry, promptly reflect budgets for necessary support projects, and establish a collaborative system for research and development between companies and universities.”

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