Gangwon Selected for Mega City Cooperation Advanced Industry Development Project, Securing 4.6 Billion Won in Government Funding

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province has been finally selected for the “Mega City Cooperation Advanced Industry Development Support (R&D) Project” hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), securing 4.6 billion won in government funding.

Exterior view of Gangwon Provincial Office. Provided by Gangwon Province.

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This project is an ultra-wide-area research and development initiative in which three regions-Gangwon, Jeonnam, and Jeju-will collaborate to develop natural substance-based bio-convergence materials and build an artificial intelligence (AI)-based skin diagnosis and analysis platform.

The project will be carried out from 2026 to 2027, with a total budget of 6.6 billion won (4.6 billion won in government funding and 2 billion won in local funding) over two years.

Recently, the beauty industry has been rapidly shifting from an emotion- and aesthetics-centered market to one based on scientific evidence, focusing on functional and personalized solutions. The personalized beauty tech market is also experiencing rapid growth.

This project is expected to contribute to strengthening global competitiveness by securing a leading position in the “personalized medi-beauty” market.

With this selection, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, which has grown around the natural substance-based biomaterials industry, is expected to undergo a major transformation, shifting from a raw material production structure to a high value-added medi-beauty industry that integrates data and artificial intelligence (AI).

The province plans to establish a full-cycle research and development system, including ▲ development of natural substance-based functional biomaterials, ▲ construction of an AI-based skin diagnosis and analysis platform, and ▲ development of data-driven personalized beauty material recommendation technology. The province will also actively support local companies and research institutions to achieve tangible results.

In particular, the ultra-wide-area cooperation system, which links Jeonnam’s biomaterial research capabilities with Jeju’s natural resources and data infrastructure, is expected to maximize synergy between the regions and contribute to balanced national development.

Kwangrae Kim, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, stated, “Being selected for this project will serve as a catalyst for Gangwon’s bioindustry to take a leap forward based on ultra-wide-area cooperation. We will nurture Gangwon as a hub of the medi-beauty industry by combining natural substance resources, the medical device industry, and artificial intelligence (AI).”

Starting with the launch of the project in the second half of 2026, the province plans to build a cooperative system among participating institutions and fully promote research and development as well as platform construction.

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