Namwon City Leads the Development of the Buyer Material Industry Ecosystem

Aiming to Strengthen the Competitiveness of the Domestic Bio Industry

Jeonbuk Namwon City Bio Industry Research Institute (Director Lee Youngcheol, hereinafter referred to as the Institute) announced on the 17th that it will begin full-scale implementation of major projects this year to foster and vitalize the bio-materials industry.

A view of Namwon City Hall. Provided by Namwon City

This year's initiatives aim to strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic bio industry through a comprehensive strategy that encompasses everything from bio research and development (R&D), nurturing leading companies through business support, workforce training, infrastructure projects, to industry-academia networking.

In particular, the Institute will focus on a variety of projects this year, including the construction of a Bio Testing Center, establishing an advanced bio-materials ecological environment, revitalizing the Namwon Cosmetic Biz Center, insect application research, digital precision cultivation, cosmetic technology research, collaborative projects for fostering region-based industries, and supporting cosmetic companies in exports and workforce training.

Key initiatives include specializing the certification and evaluation system through the construction of the Bio Testing Center and ecological environment foundation, as well as strengthening support for the commercialization of data-driven bio-materials.

Additionally, as part of efforts to revitalize the Namwon Cosmetic Biz Center, the Institute plans to designate a startup incubation center, conduct research on insect processing technology and medifood product development, develop cultivation technology and supply systems based on bio-crop ingredients, research cosmetic ingredients utilizing bio-resources from Namwon and the Jirisan region, and work on prescription design and formulation development.

Through support for fostering region-based industries, exports, and workforce training at the city, county, and district levels, the Institute will also lay the foundation for systematic growth of local specialized industries and enhance export competitiveness. Based on these efforts, it plans to accelerate the industrialization of research achievements and boost corporate competitiveness to build a sustainable bio industry ecosystem.

Starting next month, the Institute will enter the full-scale implementation phase, further strengthening collaboration with various stakeholders such as businesses, research institutions, and academia, and actively promoting the establishment of cooperative networks.

Director Lee Youngcheol stated, "The bio industry is an area drawing attention as a future growth engine, and not only R&D but also business support, infrastructure building, and talent cultivation must go hand in hand. The Institute will strategically pursue the creation of new growth engines for region-specialized bio-materials industries, innovation of new growth bio-material systems, cluster development for promising bio companies, and the globalization of Namwon's bio industry to lead the advancement of the domestic bio industry."

Namwon City Bio Industry Research Institute plans to strengthen joint research with domestic and international universities and research institutions, expand cooperation with promising bio companies, and build a more solid foundation for fostering the bio industry through linkage with local governments and policy agencies.

Based on these efforts, the Institute will continue ongoing innovation and collaboration, taking the lead in creating new value in the bio industry and building a globally competitive bio-materials industry ecosystem.