BISTEP Holds Busan Research Industry Promotion Complex Networking Exchange Meeting

A Platform for Industry-Academia-Research-Government Collaboration in Busan's Research Industry

The Busan Institute of Science and Technology Promotion (BISTEP), led by President Kim Youngbu, announced that it held the "2025 1st Busan Research Industry Promotion Complex Networking Exchange Meeting" at the Westin Josun Busan on September 10.

This networking event was organized for the first time to promote the spread of an integrated collaborative ecosystem for the development of the Research Industry Promotion Complex and to revitalize the contract research industry. More than 70 participants attended, including officials from Busan Metropolitan City, Pusan National University, resident companies within the complex, and representatives from industry, academia, research institutes, and government agencies.

The event began with an introduction to the progress of the Busan Research Industry Promotion Complex development project. Shin Hyungchul, Director of the Korea Polar Research Institute, gave a special lecture on "Pioneering Arctic Routes and National Maritime Strategy," while Lee Jiyoung, Deputy Director of the Korea Creative Content Agency, delivered a keynote on "R&D Directions and Success Cases in the Cultural Content Sector." In addition, Lee Junghyun, CTO of New Horizon, which was selected as an outstanding company, drew attention by sharing the achievements and business growth know-how gained through participation in this project.

The Research Industry Promotion Complex is a pilot project designated by the Ministry of Science and ICT in February 2023, with Busan and Daejeon chosen as the nation's first two sites to foster the research industry as a future growth engine for local economies. In Busan, the Centum General Industrial Complex has been designated as a specialized zone for contract research, with key objectives including research and development support to strengthen innovation capabilities of contract research companies, consulting for technical challenges, professional workforce training, coordinating support, and building an innovative research industry ecosystem through events such as networking exchange meetings.

Kim Youngbu, President of BISTEP, stated, "This exchange meeting will serve as an opportunity to further expand the foundation for collaboration among industry, academia, research institutes, and government agencies related to the contract research industry," adding, "We will actively support the expansion of the research industry ecosystem centered on Busan by holding the second exchange meeting in November."