Attracting the Cell-Cultured Food Research Support Center
Expected to Generate 150 Billion KRW in Economic Benefits
Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, has been finally selected in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' 'Food Tech Research Support Center' competition.
Park Hyung-su, a member of the National Assembly (People Power Party, Gyeongbuk Uiseong·Cheongsong·Yeongdeok·Uljin), expressed his expectations on the 28th, saying, "Uiseong-gun will become the center of South Korea's cell-cultured food industry."
This project supports research and industrialization of cell-cultured foods, with a total project cost of 10.5 billion KRW, including 5.25 billion KRW in national funding.
It will be established as a three-story building (total floor area 2,663㎡) within the Cheolpari Bio Valley general industrial complex in Uiseong-gun, and will perform roles such as building a food cell-culturing system, prototype production, quality control, and workforce training.
Uiseong-gun provides the site, and Gyeongbuk Technopark will manage operations. Yeungnam University and the National Animal Cell Validation Support Center will also participate in workforce training and research support.
Once the center is fully operational, more than 20 companies are expected to participate, generating a production inducement effect of 150 billion KRW and creating over 800 jobs. It is anticipated to become the first domestic hub for animal cell-cultured meat research and production.
This selection is part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' 'Food Tech Industry Development Plan.' In addition to the previously selected plant-based foods, food robots, and food upcycling, Uiseong-gun's 'cell-cultured food' and customized foods from Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, were finally confirmed in the additional competition.
Assemblyman Park emphasized, "We succeeded in increasing the new projects to two locations by persuading the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Economy and Finance upon active support requests from Uiseong-gun and Gyeongbuk Province," calling it "an achievement born from cooperation between the National Assembly and local governments."
Following its designation as a regulatory free zone for cell-cultured foods last year, the county has laid the foundation for the development of the food tech industry by establishing the Cell-Cultured Industry Support Center and a medium production building.
With the selection of this research support center, Uiseong-gun is expected to leap forward as a hub of the future food industry.
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