43 Billion KRW in Funding Over Five Years
Nurturing Global Master's and Doctoral Talents in Blue Food
The research team led by Professor Kim Youngmok (Department of Food Engineering) at National Pukyong University (President Bae Sanghoon) has been selected for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' "Marine Blue Tech Future Leader Training Project."
Professor Youngmok Kim, Pukyong National University. Courtesy of Pukyong National University
National Pukyong University was chosen in the "Blue Food and Bio" sector of this project, for which the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is allocating a large-scale budget to foster research personnel in the field of new marine industries.
Over the next five years, until 2029, the university will receive a total of 4.3 billion KRW to establish new majors related to blue food and to nurture global master's and doctoral talents who will lead the future blue food industry.
Blue food, referring to foods made from aquatic products, is considered a sustainable future growth industry. Bluetech is a new industry that integrates Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) into the blue food sector.
Through this project, National Pukyong University plans to operate advanced convergence technology R&D and systematic educational programs spanning all stages of blue food production, processing, distribution, and functional food development, with the goal of producing 120 master's and doctoral-level professionals.
To achieve this, a consortium named "Global Blue Food Future Talent Training Group" has been formed, involving Professor Kim Youngmok as the principal investigator, 42 faculty members from National Pukyong University, as well as experts from industry, academia, and research, including Professor Lee Giwon from Seoul National University, Dr. Kim Yoonsook from the Korea Food Research Institute, Jang Jongsu, CEO of Deokhwa Food, Bae Jaehyun, CEO of AquaLab, Song Geonho, CEO of LynksUp, Kim Jeongseon, Director of Babsnu, and Kim Junhyuk, Manager at Sarang and Sunhaeng.
Partner organizations include domestic institutions such as the National Institute of Fisheries Science, National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Korea Maritime Institute, Busan Technopark, Dongwon Industries, Dongwon F&B, Samjin Food, and EcoAquafarm, as well as overseas universities such as Purdue University, Hokkaido University, and Ohio University.
The main initiatives are: △ Advanced technology convergence R&D in production, processing, distribution, and functional food sectors for the advancement of the blue food industry △ Establishment and operation of specialized curricula based on four modules: fisheries, aquaculture, processing, and distribution △ Core technology education for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communication Engineering faculty (headed by Professor Ryu Jiyeol) △ Operation of practical education programs based on industry-academia-research cooperation, including mentoring, internships, and special lectures by external experts △ Enhancement of global competencies through student exchange programs with overseas universities.
Professor Kim Youngmok stated, "Through this project, we aim to establish ourselves as a hub for nurturing the next generation of talents who will lead the global blue food industry and actively contribute to pioneering a paradigm shift in the future food industry."
Professor Kim is affiliated with the Marine Bionics Convergence Technology Center (Director: Professor Jeong Wongyo), a university-focused research institute at National Pukyong University, and is focusing on developing technologies for the high value-added advancement of blue food.
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