Gangwon Province and Ministry of Science and ICT Sign 'Gangwon Science and Technology Innovation' Business Agreement

Published 10 Oct.2024 17:25(KST)

On the 10th, 'Gangwon-do Science and Technology Innovation Vision Declaration Ceremony' Held
First Announcement of One-on-One Collaboration Mid-to-Long-Term Plan Between Metropolitan Governments and Ministry of Science and ICT
Fostering Advanced Strategic Industries Such as Bio, Semiconductors, and Future Mobility

The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Yoo Sang-im) held the ‘Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Science and Technology Innovation Vision Proclamation Ceremony’ at 3 p.m. on the 10th at the 60th Anniversary Hall of Kangwon National University. The ceremony was attended by Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province; Yoo Sang-im, Minister of Science and ICT; Jeong Jae-yeon, President of Kangwon National University; Jeong Hee-gwon, Chairman of the Research and Development Special Zone Foundation; and heads of innovation institutions within Gangwon Province.

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Governor Kim Jin-tae (right) and Minister Yoo Sang-im of the Ministry of Science and ICT announced the "Gangwon Science and Technology Innovation Master Plan" at the "Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Science and Technology Innovation Vision Proclamation Ceremony" held at the 60th Anniversary Hall of Kangwon National University at 3 p.m. on the 10th, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement it.

At the vision proclamation ceremony, Gangwon Province and the Ministry of Science and ICT announced the ‘Gangwon Science and Technology Innovation Master Plan’ and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement it.

This collaboration was established to maximize the competitiveness of regional industries through cooperation between the Ministry of Science and ICT and Gangwon Province, based on a consensus on the necessity of scientific and technological innovation for fostering advanced strategic industries since the launch of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province.

This is the first case where Gangwon Province has announced a mid- to long-term plan in close one-on-one collaboration with the Ministry of Science and ICT to provide strategic R&D support such as the designation of the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone and the establishment of a regional technology innovation hub.

On the afternoon of the 10th, at the 'Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Science and Technology Innovation Vision Proclamation Ceremony,' Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and Yoo Sang-im, Minister of Science and ICT, announced the 'Gangwon Science and Technology Innovation Master Plan' and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to implement it. They then took a commemorative photo with the attendees.

The ‘Gangwon Science and Technology Innovation Master Plan’ announced today presents the basic directions for fostering ① the bio-industry and ② the semiconductor and mobility industries, based on key scientific and technological fields such as life sciences and materials, and includes specific implementation plans for the next five years (2024?2028).

Looking at the main contents, first, an R&D support system will be established through the designation of the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone and the establishment of a regional technology innovation hub. To this end, the specialized scope will be designated in key regional industry-related fields such as bio, healthcare, semiconductor, and mobility, and the regional scope will be expanded to establish the roles of major regional bases such as Gangneung, Chuncheon, and Wonju, strengthening cooperation among these bases to promote the consolidation of dispersed technology commercialization and startup capabilities within Gangwon Province.

Second, a consortium will be formed among technology development entities such as universities and government-funded research institutes to actively promote the establishment of a regional technology innovation hub that fosters regional industries linked to national strategic technologies, and comprehensive support measures will be prepared to fill gaps that existing support cannot cover.

Third, a virtuous cycle model of local talent cultivation, employment, and settlement will be promoted to nurture core talents required for the bio-industry and semiconductor and mobility industries from undergraduate levels at local universities and encourage their settlement in the region.

First, by linking with the Ministry of Education’s university financial support projects (RISE), Glocal 30, and specialized workforce training programs, the plan strengthens the cultivation and attraction of outstanding talents and encourages employment through industry-linked job creation such as corporate internships and contract quota systems. In addition, the living and convenience facilities will be expanded, and the digitalization and eco-friendliness of industrial infrastructure and public facilities will improve the settlement conditions of existing clusters.

Minister Yoo Sang-im of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, “The crisis of local extinction is not a vague anxiety but a reality, and regional scientific and technological innovation will be the key to continuous regional development and solving regional imbalance issues,” adding, “Starting with the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, we plan to sequentially establish a comprehensive science and technology innovation cooperation system reflecting regional characteristics.”

Governor Kim Jin-tae said, “Today is a historic day as the province and the Ministry of Science and ICT collaborate for the first time nationwide to foster science and technology-based regional industries,” adding, “Regional industrial development has already begun overseas, such as semiconductor investments in Hokkaido, Japan, and factory construction in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.” He also stated, “Going forward, the province plans to pursue designation as a research and development special zone to advance as a global city for future industries,” and requested, “We ask for much cooperation from the Ministry of Science and ICT.”