Pohang City Holds Inauguration Ceremony for 'Leap to a Sustainable ESG Global Innovation City'

Creating ESG Global Innovation Cities ... A Platform to Showcase Fresh Ideas

Pohang City Accelerates Leap Toward a Sustainable ESG Global Innovation City.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Pohang City took the first step toward creating a global ESG startup ecosystem by holding the ‘ESG Startup Hub Vision Proclamation Ceremony’ on the 26th at Handong Global University, one of the partner institutions.

This proclamation ceremony marked the starting point of a pioneering project for the city to independently overcome the crisis of regional extinction through cooperation with local universities. It announced the ambition to make Pohang an ESG startup hub and, further, a global ESG innovation city, with Handong Global University as the base.

The event was attended by about 200 people, including Pohang Mayor Kang-deok Lee, key guests, investors, and representatives of promising startups. In the first part, Handong Global University President Do-sung Choi presented the vision, including plans to establish the ESG Startup Center.

The second part was a forum for presentations and discussions among global investors, asset management companies, and startups, sharing ideas on the vision for ESG startups.

The ‘ESG Startup Center’ is scheduled to be completed in December 2023 within Handong Global University. ESG startups based in Pohang will move in and receive support to stably advance their businesses through programs such as ESG and entrepreneurship education, mentoring, and expert consultation.

As a core facility of the ESG Pohang Startup Cluster, the ESG Startup Center is expected to serve as a stepping stone for those aspiring to ESG startups, starting with the first establishment and continuing with ongoing expansion.

Through the networking event held in the second part of this proclamation ceremony, Pohang plans to showcase its potential as the birthplace of ESG startups to leading investors nationwide and attract their interest and investment.

Handong Global University has optimal conditions to grow into a global ESG startup ecosystem, including excellent entrepreneurial talent produced through research infrastructure and technological cooperation with POSTECH, the establishment of a global network, numerous alumni companies specialized in the ESG field, and possession of Handong International School.

Handong Global University continues efforts to create the ESG Pohang Startup Cluster in collaboration with Pohang City, UNAI KOREA, and SparkLabs.

UNAI KOREA (United Nations Academic Impact Korea) and Handong Global University’s Grace School are committed to fostering the ESG mindset of those aspiring to startups through ESG education based on global citizenship awareness.

They are conducting education for successful entrepreneurship and are planning ESG entrepreneurship education as well. In addition, they plan to form an expert advisory group and a startup mentor group to achieve effective global expansion and investment attraction for startups.

Mayor Kang-deok Lee said, “With Handong Global University as the base, which has the optimal conditions to grow into an ESG startup hub, we expect private investment to focus on Pohang by discovering sustainable business models that realize ESG values.” He added, “We will create an ESG global innovation city that is good for startups and provide generous investment and support so that young people can develop innovative ideas.”

Yoo Jung-geun, Director of UNAI KOREA, said, “Through diverse and impactful programs including holistic global citizenship education, we will nurture talents with mature character and social responsibility, and work together with Pohang City, Handong Global University, SparkLabs, and ESG partners in various professional fields to develop and realize the ESG startup ecosystem.”

Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, stated, “To raise awareness of sustainable practice and growth, the Ban Ki-moon Global Education Institute, Handong Global University, and Pohang City will cooperate to lay the foundation for building an ESG startup hub based on holistic global citizenship spirit, and we will do our best.”

Handong Global University President Do-sung Choi said, “Handong Global University goes beyond simple profit generation to realize social responsibility and create value through discovering and nurturing sustainable ESG startups.” He added, “Leveraging Handong’s global network, curriculum advantages, and close cooperation with Pohang City, we will strive to establish an ESG startup hub that saves people, the environment, and the world.”