Suncheon National University to Launch Academic-Industrial Joint Research with Local Institutes and Companies

Suncheon National University (President Lee Byeongwoon) announced that it will officially launch the "2026 Academic-Industrial Joint Research in Collaboration with Local Research Institutes" as part of the Glocal University 30 initiative.

This project is a collaborative research model that combines the university's basic research capabilities, the technological expertise of local research institutes, and the commercialization capacity of industry. Its aim is to enhance the university's research competitiveness while simultaneously advancing the strategic industries of South Jeolla Province.

Campus view of Suncheon National University.

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The project will be operated through a triangular cooperative structure involving the university, research institutes, and companies. Full-time faculty members of Suncheon National University will participate as lead researchers, while researchers from local research institutes in South Jeolla Province and working-level staff from small and medium-sized regional enterprises will jointly conduct the research.

Additionally, the design requires that at least one full-time undergraduate or graduate student must participate in each project, providing students with practical, field-oriented research experience.

A total of approximately five projects will be selected for this initiative, with each project receiving research funding of about 19 million won. The research funds will cover materials, general expenses, operational allowances, domestic travel expenses, project management costs, and student work-study scholarships.

In particular, participating students will be provided with up to 3 million won per person in work-study scholarships to actively encourage research participation.

Through joint research, the project is expected to generate outcomes encompassing research, education, and industry by facilitating research-oriented courses, developing curricula in collaboration with research institutes, signing research and business agreements, jointly utilizing research facilities and equipment, and publishing KCI-indexed papers or filing patents. Based on this, a virtuous cycle will be established, in which research outcomes, talent cultivation, and expanded industry collaboration reinforce one another, further strengthening the cooperative network among the university, region, and industry.

Participating research institutes must be located in South Jeolla Province and be eligible to sign research or business agreements with the university. Participating companies are also limited to small and medium-sized regional enterprises, such as family companies of Suncheon National University, in order to strengthen practical cooperation with local industry.

Song Kyunghwan, head of the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, stated, "The purpose of this project goes beyond simply providing research funding; it aims to establish a collaborative ecosystem in which the university, local research institutes, and industry grow together," adding, "We expect it will contribute both to the creation of research achievements and to the enhancement of students' practical competencies."

Meanwhile, applications for this project will be accepted until April 30, 2026. After the selection and evaluation process in May, the projects will be finalized, with research to be conducted until November 2026 and the final outcome evaluation scheduled for January 2027.

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