One Year Since Incheon Seo-gu Designated as 'Gangso Research and Development Special Zone'... 13.2 Billion KRW Investment Attraction, 125 Jobs Created

Since its designation last year, the Gangso Research and Development Special Zone in Seo-gu, Incheon has achieved tangible results such as investment linkage and job creation over the past year.

On the 27th, Incheon City held a "1st Anniversary Performance Report Meeting" at the INU Innovation Center of Incheon National University, attended by the Ministry of Science and ICT, Incheon National University, the Research and Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation, and representatives of companies located in the Seo-gu Gangso Special Zone, the city announced on the 30th.

Designated in June last year under the "Special Act on the Promotion of Research and Development Special Zones," the Seo-gu Gangso Special Zone in Incheon (2.21 million ㎡) is the only environmental special zone in Korea specializing in "ICT Convergence Environmental Pollution Treatment and Management." It promotes technology commercialization by discovering promising public technologies and commercialization demands, supporting technology transfer, research institute company registration, and startups. It also strives to foster regionally specialized industries by utilizing a network involving companies, experts, and innovation institutions within the special zone.

Over the past year, the Gangso Special Zone has achieved 55 cases of technology transfer (investment), 15 research institute company establishments, 18 startups, 13.2 billion KRW in investment linkage, 35.1 billion KRW in sales by beneficiary companies, and 125 jobs created.

'Sheko,' a company developing marine oil spill prevention robots, doubled its workforce through technology commercialization support and succeeded in entering overseas markets such as Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. 'Shelpia,' which developed an eco-friendly de-icing agent using oyster shells, registered as a demand-linked research institute company, signed a testbed agreement with the Incheon Facilities Corporation, and attracted seed investment. 'EightTech' developed an AI-based automatic waste sorting robot and successfully attracted 3.1 billion KRW in investment.

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok unveils a plaque with Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT and guests at the '2023 Incheon Seo-gu Small Research and Development Special Zone 1st Anniversary Performance Report and White Bio Circular Economy Industrial Technology Research Association Launch Ceremony' held at the Incheon University Innovation Center on the 27th. 2023.7.27
Photo by Incheon City

Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok said, "We will continue to cooperate with central government ministries to establish a solid support system for nurturing companies through a region- and field-centered technology commercialization system, sparing no support or effort." He added, "We expect the Seo-gu Gangso Special Zone to become a true hub for ICT convergence environmental technology commercialization in Korea."

Meanwhile, following the performance report meeting, the inauguration ceremony of the "White Bio Circular Economy Industrial Technology Research Association" was held. The Industrial Technology Research Association is Korea's first research association in the bio-plastic field, jointly participated by industry, academia, and research institutes, covering everything from bio-plastic materials to product manufacturing and distribution.

It is expected that as the research association utilizes the R&D Special Zone regulatory sandbox such as demonstration exceptions and temporary permits, and undertakes joint R&D project discovery and planning, it will contribute not only to the technological and industrial development of the bio-plastic field but also to the revitalization of the regional economy.