BISTEP and Busan Science and Technology Organizations Meet with Mayor Park Hyungjun... "Aiming to Become a Science and Technology-Centered City"

On August 21, the Busan Institute for Science and Technology Promotion (BISTEP), led by President Kim Youngbu, met with Mayor Park Hyungjun at Busan City Hall along with the heads of local science and technology organizations to discuss strategies for advancing science and technology in Busan.

BISTEP is having a meeting with Mayor Park Hyungjun along with Busan science and technology organizations and taking a commemorative photo. Photo by BISTEP

This meeting was organized to explore the creation of a region-led science and technology development ecosystem aimed at transforming Busan into a global science and technology hub, to expand the attraction of R&D projects, and to discuss the future direction of the "Busan Science and Technology Policy Forum" hosted by BISTEP.

Attendees included Jin Sungho, President of the Busan-Ulsan Chapter of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies (professor at Pusan National University); honorary presidents Kang Shinwon and Park Taejoo; Oh Hyunjoo, Head of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Branch of the Korean Association of Women Scientists and Engineers (director of the National Institute of Fisheries Science); Wang Jaepil, Head of the Southeast Headquarters of the Citizens' Coalition for Realization of Right Science and Technology Society (professor at Pukyong National University); and Kim Youngbu, President of BISTEP, among other leaders representing the local science and technology community.

The participants discussed AI-centered future industry strategies and ways to attract related projects by leveraging Busan's robust power infrastructure and its geopolitical advantages. In particular, they agreed that science and technology competitiveness is crucial for the region's survival, especially as traditional key industries such as petrochemicals and steel face challenges due to global power struggles. They also reaffirmed that Busan, with its large number of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, can remain competitive under new industrial paradigms.

In addition, there was an in-depth discussion on utilizing the region's high proportion of elderly residents by involving retired scientists in mentoring small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the need to develop science and technology innovation strategies tailored to the local industrial ecosystem.

Following the first "Busan Science and Technology Policy Forum" held on August 11, BISTEP plans to strengthen cooperation with science and technology organizations and operate regular quarterly forums.

President Kim Youngbu stated, "This meeting will serve as an opportunity to further solidify cooperation between Busan City and the science and technology community," adding, "We will do our utmost to transform Busan into a science and technology-centered city, with the policy forum at its core."