347 Billion Won Invested in Janghang Industrial Complex,
Research and Pilot Production Facilities Completed...
Global Marine Bio Cluster Begins Full-Scale Operations
The Marine Bio Industrialization Support Center has opened and begun full-scale operations at the Janghang National Ecological Industrial Complex in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong Province.
Fifty years ago, Janghang was a key hub for non-ferrous metal smelting. Now, it is poised to become a high-value-added future growth city, leading with the marine bio industry.
On September 22, the province held an opening ceremony for the Marine Bio Industrialization Support Center at the Janghang National Ecological Industrial Complex, attended by Governor Kim Taeheum and others.
According to the province, the center was built with a total investment of 34.7 billion won, including provincial funds. The facility consists of three above-ground floors and one basement level, with a total floor area of 6,199.7 square meters, and is divided into a research building and a pilot production building.
The research building houses facilities for microalgae and microorganism cultivation, a genome analysis laboratory, and spaces for tenant companies. The pilot production building is equipped with facilities for the pilot production of health functional foods.
Additionally, the center features 498 pieces of equipment across 114 types, including photobioreactors and protein separation and purification systems.
The center provides comprehensive support throughout the entire industrialization cycle, including startup assistance for companies, prototype production, provision of workspace, workforce development, joint industry-academia-research R&D, and marketing support. Currently, three companies have moved in and are working on technology and product development.
Governor Kim Taeheum stated, "We will focus on research and development, industrialization, and talent cultivation to foster Seocheon as a hub city for the marine bio industry," adding, "We are also pursuing the establishment of a knowledge industry center, a certification support center, a mass production plant, and the construction of the Korea Polytechnic University Seocheon Campus."
By 2028, the province plans to invest a total of 216.8 billion won to complete a West Sea region marine bio cluster by establishing seven additional institutions, including a blue carbon demonstration research center and a certification support center, following the marine bio bank and the industrialization support center.
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