Promotion of 33 Projects with 29 Institutions from 12 Countries
Global Innovation Zones in Jeonnam, Chungbuk, Gangwon, and Busan are set to embark on full-scale research and development (R&D).
On the 27th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that the special zone operators of the four global innovation zones will actively pursue 33 international joint R&D projects in collaboration with 29 institutions across 12 countries, including Germany's Fraunhofer (ISIT), Japan's Tokyo Medical University Hospital, the United States' Johns Hopkins University Hospital, and the United Kingdom's University of Strathclyde.
The global innovation zones are regions designated to develop new products in future technology fields and support overseas expansion, including ▲Jeonnam DC Industry ▲Chungbuk Advanced Regenerative Bio ▲Gangwon AI Healthcare ▲Busan Next-Generation Marine Mobility.
This project, led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, will invest 400 million KRW per project over two years, totaling 13.2 billion KRW. It supports joint research and development with overseas innovation institutions to help companies in new technology fields or those facing regulatory challenges to enter the global market.
The project, which has been promoted without indirect costs thanks to established cooperative relationships with overseas institutions, aims to reduce companies' financial burdens and enhance the effectiveness of R&D outcomes, thereby improving financial efficiency.
Robex, a technology protection specialized law firm participating in the ‘Global Innovation Zone Legal Support Group,’ provides support to prevent technology leakage, secure IP, and protect core technologies, proactively blocking risks related to technology protection in international joint R&D projects.
The main overseas partner institutions and R&D details for each special zone are as follows.
The Jeonnam DC Industry Global Innovation Zone is developing DC power conversion devices and circuit breakers with Germany’s Fraunhofer ISIT research institute. It is also demonstrating DC distribution network operation technology to capture the rapidly growing DC industry market and aims to challenge the establishment of international standards aligned with the global DC transition trend for carbon neutrality.
Eight companies selected in the Chungbuk Advanced Regenerative Bio Global Innovation Zone have been based in Japan’s Shonan iPark since September. They are conducting R&D with Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Kyushu University, and Astellas Pharma, aiming to develop cell and gene therapies such as arthritis cell therapy, organoid-based regenerative therapies, and induced pluripotent stem cell therapies.
The Busan Next-Generation Marine Mobility Global Innovation Zone collaborates with the University of Strathclyde, the UK’s top institution in shipbuilding and marine engineering, specializing in eco-friendly vessels. Through demonstrations of intelligent ship carbon management platforms and development of autonomous ship remote control decision support systems, it aims to lead next-generation eco-friendly and autonomous ship technologies.
The Gangwon AI Healthcare Global Innovation Zone is building a cloud-based remote collaboration platform for brain hemorrhage with the University of Tartu in Estonia. It is also developing AI healthcare products and services, such as dizziness diagnostic software, in partnership with Johns Hopkins University Hospital in the United States.
Yoon Seok-bae, Director of the Special Zone Policy Division, stated, “The global innovation zones will strengthen practical support for companies within the zones to pursue international joint R&D by alleviating burdens such as indirect costs and providing IP protection through legal advice.”
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