Government to Double 'Food Tech Department'... 65% Tuition Support Provided

'Food Tech Contract Departments' Doubled... From 4 to 8

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Junhyung] The government will double the number of 'Foodtech Contract Departments' to foster the Foodtech industry. The government plans to expand Foodtech contract departments primarily at universities based in regional areas to encourage local food companies to develop Foodtech technologies.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 24th that the number of universities operating 'Foodtech Contract Departments' will increase from the current 4 to 8 this year. Foodtech is a new industry combining food production, distribution, and consumption with advanced technologies such as information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI). The government first established Foodtech contract departments in 2020 in response to demand from the food industry.

The issue is that universities operating Foodtech contract departments are concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area. Currently, Foodtech contract departments are offered as master's programs at four universities: Seoul National University, Hanyang University, Kyung Hee University, and Korea University Sejong Campus. Three out of the four universities operating these departments are located in Seoul. A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official stated, "We plan to expand the contract departments, which are currently concentrated in metropolitan universities, to regional base universities," adding, "This aims to encourage participation in the Foodtech industry by local small and medium-sized food companies."

Accordingly, the Ministry is recruiting universities to establish new Foodtech contract departments. The application period is until the 22nd of next month. Schools defined as universities under Article 2, Clause 1 of the Higher Education Act are eligible to apply. Industrial universities and junior colleges are excluded. The government's goal is to open master's or bachelor's (3rd-year transfer) programs in the Foodtech field in the second half of this year.

Universities operating Foodtech contract departments can receive operational support funds. The support amount is up to 35 million KRW per semester. However, if the number of enrolled students is less than 70% of the quota, the university must recruit students again. Students receive support covering 65% of their tuition fees. The Ministry also provides project funds up to 60 million KRW annually to develop technologies that can resolve on-site difficulties faced by companies.

The Ministry plans to expand Foodtech contract departments to 12 by 2027, tripling the number from last year (4). Yang Joo-pil, Director of Food Industry Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "To revitalize the Foodtech industry, we plan to expand contract departments to 12 by 2027," and added, "We hope for active participation from universities that will lead innovative growth in the Foodtech industry."

On November 2 last year, a visitor is examining smart farm products at COEX Food Week 2022 (the 17th Seoul International Food Industry Exhibition) held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@