Creating a 'Global Innovation Zone'... Generating Future Growth Engines in AI, Aerospace, and Bio Sectors

Announcement of Global Innovation Zone Candidate Areas
Daegu (AI Robot), Gyeongnam (Aerospace), Daejeon (Synthetic Biology) Selected

On the 8th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that Daegu, Gyeongnam, and Daejeon have been selected as candidate areas for the Global Innovation Special Zones. The selected candidate areas will undergo consultations with relevant ministries to grant sector-specific regulatory exemptions, followed by deliberation and resolution by the Regulatory Free Zone Committee, and are expected to be finally designated as Global Innovation Special Zones in the first half of 2025.

The ‘Global Innovation Special Zone’ is a Korean-style innovation cluster where systems aligned with global standards?such as regulations, demonstrations, and certifications?are applied for the development of new products in advanced fields and overseas expansion. It was introduced to strengthen the global competitiveness of regional SMEs by boldly reforming regulations to respond quickly and flexibly to rapid external changes such as intensified global advanced technology competition.

Last year, four regions were selected for the first time, and this year seven cities and provinces participated in the competition. According to expert evaluations, all three candidate areas for the Global Innovation Special Zones are advanced fields urgently requiring regulatory relief and securing global competitiveness. The establishment of these zones is expected to revitalize the regional economy and have significant economic ripple effects, with high potential for future growth.

Daegu will create and link an advanced manufacturing zone developing highly refined productized robot hardware and an AI innovation zone developing robot software that enhances products by integrating AI technology. It will build an AI robot industry ecosystem and promote demonstrations of robots supporting human life and robots for complex unstructured manufacturing tasks.

Daejeon aims to leap forward as a leading city in advanced bio-manufacturing by fostering the synthetic biology industry and expanding its ecosystem. It will strengthen its bio-material development capabilities by utilizing a bio foundry and receiving regulatory exemptions related to genetically modified organisms.

Gyeongnam will establish standard procedures and systems for full-cycle management of next-generation advanced satellite development and build satellite control infrastructure to secure growth momentum and global competitiveness in the regional space industry.

Minister Oh Young-joo of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups said, “Advanced new technologies often face delays in development due to regulatory barriers or insufficient systems such as safety standards, but the Global Innovation Special Zones will help overcome these limitations.” He added, “Through demonstration projects of new technologies in AI robots, aerospace, and bio-manufacturing, we expect our SMEs and startups to strengthen their global competitiveness and write success stories.”