Resolution Rally Unites City, Medical Community, Academia, and Civic Groups
Strength in Research, Clinical, and AI-Based Infrastructure
"A Contribution to Balanced National Development"
Gwangju City is accelerating its efforts to attract the National Institute of Dental Science Research by collaborating with the local medical community, academia, and civic organizations.
On December 14, Gwangju City announced that it had held a resolution rally the previous day to once again emphasize the necessity and justification for establishing the institute in Gwangju.
On the 13th, attendees held cheering slogans and took commemorative photos at the resolution rally for hosting the National Institute of Dental Science in Gwangju. Photo by Gwangju City
On this day, Gwangju City hosted the "National Institute of Dental Science Research Gwangju Hosting Resolution Rally" in conjunction with the "Gwangju Night for Dental Professionals" event at the Kimdaejung Convention Center. The event was attended by Choi Taejo, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Industry Bureau of Gwangju City; Park Wongil, President of the Gwangju Dental Association; Hwang Yoonchan, Director of the Chonnam National University Dental Hospital; Ko Jeongtae, Dean of the Chonnam National University School of Dentistry; Lim Sunghoon, Director of the Chosun University Dental Hospital; and Kim Heejung, Dean of the Chosun University College of Dentistry, along with other representatives from the local dental and academic communities.
According to the city, a public signature campaign held prior to the resolution rally helped build consensus that "Gwangju must emerge as the central city for national dental research and industry."
The National Institute of Dental Science Research is a national research institution established by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, responsible for developing dental policies, researching new technologies, supporting clinical research, and promoting the industry.
Since 2012, when Gwangju first officially raised the need for the institute's establishment on a national level, the city has laid the groundwork for its bid by conducting related research studies, hosting industry-academia-research-hospital forums, and supporting legislative proposals. Last year, a working group comprising universities, hospitals, and companies was formed to develop the rationale for the bid and refine specialized strategies.
Gwangju is home to two dental colleges-Chonnam National University and Chosun University-providing a pool of research personnel and a clinical infrastructure. The city also boasts concentrated research and industrial infrastructure, including the Dental Materials and Components Technology Support Center, the Biomedical Testing and Research Center, and the National AI Data Center. This enables Gwangju to connect the entire process from research and development (R&D) to clinical trials and commercialization within a single city, which is a major strength.
Additionally, the potential for convergence with the digital and artificial intelligence (AI)-based dental industry is a key competitive advantage that Gwangju City emphasizes. The city believes these conditions can also help alleviate the concentration of the medical industry in the Seoul metropolitan and Yeongnam regions.
Choi Taejo stated, "Gwangju is a city equipped with the conditions to integrate medical, bio, and AI industries on the foundation of dental education and clinical infrastructure. We will mobilize all our capabilities to ensure the National Institute of Dental Science Research is established in Gwangju."
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