Ulsan City Launches Initiative for Joint Growth with Universities and Companies

"2025 Ulsan RISE Committee and Agreement Ceremony" to Be Held on the 2nd
Full-Scale Launch of Ulsan-Style RISE Project in Cooperation with Universities and Leading Companies

In accordance with the government's policy to address the social challenges that have led to regional imbalance?now recognized as a matter of national seriousness?through higher education reform, the RISE (Regional Innovation System & Education) initiative, which has been in the planning stages since last year, will be fully launched in local regions starting this year.

RISE (Regional Innovation System & Education) refers to a university support system centered on regional innovation. It is a system where some of the authority over university financial support projects of the Ministry of Education is delegated to local governments, thereby promoting mutual growth between regions and universities through university support linked to regional development.

On the afternoon of the 2nd at 3 PM, Ulsan Metropolitan City will hold the "2025 Ulsan RISE Committee and Agreement Ceremony" in the main conference room on the 2nd floor of City Hall, marking the official start of the 2025 RISE project in Ulsan.

The Ulsan RISE Committee, launched in December last year, is the highest decision-making body leading Ulsan's "Regional Innovation-Centered University Support System." It is composed of 16 experts from various fields, including education, economy, industry, and related organizations.

This meeting will be attended by about 10 participants, including Co-Chairs Kim Dukyum, Mayor of Ulsan, and Oh Yeoncheon, President of University of Ulsan, as well as other committee members. The agenda includes a report on the progress of Ulsan's RISE initiative and presentations of visions and business plans by participating universities.

In addition, Ulsan City, participating universities, and leading companies will sign a "Ulsan-Style RISE Joint Project Cooperation Agreement," reaffirming their commitment to building a leading model for regional innovation through multilateral cooperation.

The agreement will include Ulsan City, University of Ulsan, Ulsan College, Chunhae Health College, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Motor Company, and SK Energy.

This agreement aims to ultimately achieve sustainable regional development and mutual growth of universities by fostering industry-specific talent, creating a regional innovation ecosystem, and generating quality jobs.

Mayor Kim Dukyum stated, "The ultimate goal of this project is to enhance the settlement of the local population and solve the issue of population outflow from non-capital regions. Only when people can stay, learn, work, and live will the region have sustainable development potential. Our city will play a central role so that the RISE project becomes a practical foundation for university sustainability, corporate growth, and urban expansion."

In December last year, Ulsan City established the "Ulsan Metropolitan City Regional Innovation-Centered University Support System (RISE) Basic Plan," laying the groundwork for mutual growth between local communities and universities.

According to the plan, this year will be the inaugural year for the success of the RISE project, with 15 working meetings and 6 business roundtables to be held through collaboration among local government, industry, academia, and research institutes, identifying and addressing local challenges.

To this end, starting with the project announcement on February 17 and following a selection and evaluation process, 31 projects from 3 participating universities were finalized on March 31. A total of 41 billion KRW will be provided this year, with a total budget of 307.5 billion KRW to be invested over the next five years, until 2029.

The main projects, tailored to the characteristics of each university, are as follows.

University of Ulsan will promote projects such as fostering industry-customized specialized talent through collaboration among local government, industry, academia, and research institutes; establishing a complex disaster response system; spreading artificial intelligence and digital transformation (AI·DX); realizing a carbon-neutral city; and developing a "Kkuljaemdosi" (Fun City).

In particular, by utilizing on-site company campuses, the university will nurture practical talent and conduct joint R&BD (Research and Business Development) with local government, industry, academia, and research institutes to lead Ulsan's industrial growth and innovation.

Furthermore, to create a "Kkuljaemdosi," departments in the humanities, social sciences, culture, arts, and engineering will actively collaborate.

Ulsan College will further strengthen field-oriented education in collaboration with leading companies in the region's core industries, based on industry-academia cooperation.

In particular, the university will focus on nurturing professional technical talent in the fields of mobility, chemical/energy, and health/social services with AI literacy, while also accelerating the development of eco-friendly talent with capabilities to address carbon neutrality.

Additionally, through the "Neulbom Ecosystem Development Project," the university will support the development of programs and training of instructors for elementary schools, actively promoting local care and after-school programs.

Chunhae Health College, as a university specialized in health care and human services, will focus on strengthening its "Regional Experience-Based Complex Disaster Safety Management Support System" by specializing in radiation disaster response and fostering professional talent in industrial health and safety and radiation safety to enhance response and management capabilities for complex disasters (natural, industrial, social disasters).

Through the "Regional-Friendly Integrated Health Management Support System Enhancement Project," the university will also actively support health management and daily welfare for socially disadvantaged groups in the region.