Dankook University Cheonan Campus and Pukyong National University to be Developed as Regional Innovation Hubs

Final Selection as a New Candidate Site for the Campus Innovation Park Project

Dankook University Cheonan Campus and Pukyong National University have been finally selected as new candidates for the Campus Innovation Park.

The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 19th that the two universities were finally selected as new candidates for the 2023 Campus Innovation Park.

The Campus Innovation Park project is a joint initiative by the three ministries to strengthen government-industry-academia cooperation by transforming university idle land into urban high-tech industrial complexes centered on universities and constructing corporate residency spaces (industry-academia-research innovation hubs).

Previously, through three rounds of public contests, a total of seven universities were selected as project targets: Gangwon National University, Hannam University, and Hanyang University ERICA in 2019; Kyungpook National University and Chonnam National University in 2021; and Jeonbuk National University and Changwon National University in 2022. The five universities selected in the first and second rounds have completed the designation of urban high-tech industrial complexes and are sequentially advancing the Campus Innovation Park project.

Dankook University Cheonan Campus (left) and an aerial view of Pukyong National University, finally selected as new candidate sites for the Campus Innovation Park.
[Photo by Ministry of Education]

This year, a total of 17 universities submitted proposals. A review committee composed of nine private experts in fields such as industrial location, industry-academia cooperation, startup and enterprise development conducted written evaluations, on-site inspections, and presentation evaluations based on the public contest guidelines to select the final two universities.

The finally selected Dankook University Cheonan Campus and Pukyong National University received high evaluations for their excellent accessibility including surrounding transportation conditions, outstanding industry-academia cooperation performance, and potential to support startup companies.

The selected universities and public institutions will act as joint project implementers, discussing project plans and aiming to designate the urban high-tech industrial complexes in the second half of next year, starting the establishment of industrial complex plans.

A government official stated, “The Campus Innovation Park project is designed to create industrial complexes concentrated with advanced industries in locations preferred by young people, establishing an ecosystem where people and industries gather,” adding, “The three ministries will actively collaborate to support universities in becoming innovation hubs within their regions.”