Outline of Daejeon Social Economy Innovation Town Operation for 'Retired Scientist Matching Startup Support'

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The operational direction of the Daejeon Social Economy Innovation Town has been decided. The core is to undertake and promote specialized projects such as living labs that solve social problems using science and technology.

According to Daejeon City on the 9th, the Social Economy Innovation Town is planned to be completed by September 2023 following the selection results of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's public contest project.

Along with the construction of the Social Economy Innovation Town, the city plans to establish detailed projects based on five major promotion strategies: building a social economy innovation platform, implementing science and technology-based specialized projects, fostering and advancing social economy enterprises, strengthening innovation-based research and education, and enhancing social economy marketing and promotion.

Among these, the specialized projects will be promoted by utilizing retired scientists who have worked in the Daedeok Research Complex and other local areas to support technology transfer, commercialization, and startup consulting.

Additionally, the city’s plan is to simultaneously promote local business startups and future agriculture by fostering medical and bio-related companies within the region and implementing smart farm technology education.

A citizen participation living lab will also be operated to realize shared value through agenda discovery and problem-solving for regional community development. The city’s strategy includes solving various social issues such as environment, transportation, welfare, and housing through corporate participation.

Meanwhile, the Social Economy Innovation Town is scheduled to be constructed on the site of the former Health and Environment Research Institute located in Gayang-dong, Dong-gu, Daejeon, with one basement floor and four above-ground floors.