Chungnam Province is set to actively promote the establishment of the National Institute of Dental Science (hereinafter referred to as the Institute) in Cheonan.
On the 17th, the province held the launching ceremony of the ‘National Institute of Dental Science Chungnam (Cheonan) Establishment Promotion Committee’ at Cheonan City Hall.
The Promotion Committee was formed with the participation of 61 local figures from various sectors to publicize the necessity of establishing the Institute in Chungnam and the aspirations of 2.2 million residents nationwide. The chairpersons are Chungnam Governor Kim Tae-heum and Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don, serving jointly.
The launching ceremony proceeded with the introduction of the promotion committee members, a presentation on the necessity and feasibility of establishing the Institute by Professor Lee Jeong-hwan of Dankook University College of Dentistry, and a proclamation performance.
The province is currently promoting the establishment of the Institute within the Cheonan-Asan R&D cluster. The Institute’s main functions include building a collaboration system among industry, academia, hospitals, and research institutes linked to government oral health policies, comprehensive research and development support, and commercialization linked to elemental and core technologies.
The province argues that establishing the Institute is necessary to respond to changes in global dental service technologies and to build an innovative research foundation in the dental medical service sector to lead the market.
In particular, the establishment of the Institute in Cheonan is a regional pledge of the President. Cheonan is home to Dankook University College of Dentistry and Dental Hospital, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, and many global researchers in dental research and development infrastructure and stem cell tissue regeneration fields, as well as a concentration of various research institutions, which adds persuasiveness.
Previously, Governor Kim proposed to President Yoon Seok-yeol in July last year and again in February this year to install the Institute in Cheonan.
In addition, in November last year, Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don, Dankook University President Kim Su-bok, Ostem Implant CEO Eom Tae-gwan, and Chungnam Dental Association President Park Hyun-soo signed a business agreement, signaling the start of efforts to establish the Institute in the province.
Governor Kim said, “Considering the increasing demand for dental medical care due to population aging and diversification of chronic oral diseases, the establishment of the Institute is absolutely necessary,” adding, “This is an issue the President also agrees with, and the province will lead the establishment of the Institute in Cheonan so that Chungnam can lead the development of the domestic dental industry.”
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