Inaugural '2025 Night of Root Industry Entrepreneurs' Event
Strengthening Solidarity Among Local Root Industry Companies
To strengthen the bonds among local root industry companies, Daejeon Technopark held the inaugural '2025 Night of Root Industry Entrepreneurs' event on December 17 at the Yuseong Convention Wedding Hall, providing a venue for exchange among regional root industry professionals.
This event was organized by the Advanced Root Industry Association and hosted by Daejeon Technopark, attracting more than 120 participants, including representatives from local root industry companies and related organizations, making it a great success.
'Night of Root Industry Entrepreneurs' was established to highlight the role and value of the root industry and to strengthen solidarity and cooperative networks among companies, based on a shared understanding of the weakening manufacturing base in the region.
In particular, this event was recognized as the first official exchange among root industry companies in the Daejeon area, serving as a meaningful starting point for sharing voices from the industrial field and exploring future directions for innovation.
During the event, a total of 13 companies and professionals who contributed to the development of the local root industry and the enhancement of manufacturing competitiveness were honored with awards.
The Daejeon Metropolitan City Mayor's Award was presented to Kim Hyungil, CEO of Instek; Yoo Seongtaek, CEO of KAT; Lee Jingwan, CEO of Dooyeon Industry; Cho Jaeyoung, Principal Researcher at Hankook Tire Technology; and Shim Yewon, Principal at Daejeon Technopark.
The Daejeon Technopark President's Award went to Jeong Yongjin, Director at Paradigm; Professor Yoon Seokcheol of Hanbat National University; and Baek Junho, CEO of Respect.
Additionally, the Advanced Root Industry Association President's Award was given to Professor Seong Eulhyeon of Chungnam National University; Professor Kim Jaeseong of Hanbat National University; Seo Haenam, Team Leader at Daejeon Technopark; Kim Seungjun, CEO of Daechang Heat Treatment; and Han Junho, Director at KAT.
During the subsequent networking session, companies freely exchanged ideas, further solidifying the foundation for industry-academia-research-government collaboration. Participants expressed their shared understanding of the role and value of the root industry and agreed on the necessity of future cooperation and solidarity.
Daejeon Technopark plans to make 'Night of Root Industry Entrepreneurs' an annual event, using this inaugural gathering as a stepping stone to further strengthen bonds among local root industry companies and to promote manufacturing innovation and competitiveness in the region.
Kim Wooyeon, President of Daejeon Technopark, stated, "This event was a meaningful occasion to recognize the hard work of root industry entrepreneurs who have supported the foundation of local manufacturing and to share opinions from the industrial field. Going forward, we will continue to strengthen field-oriented support and cooperation so that the root industry can grow in connection with advanced industries."
Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, said, "I would like to thank the representatives, executives, and employees of root industry companies, as well as industry-academia-research stakeholders, for safeguarding the foundation of the local manufacturing sector despite challenges such as global supply chain instability. As digital and AI-based manufacturing innovation becomes a key task for the root industry, Daejeon City will actively support the transformation of the root industry into a high value-added advanced sector and strengthen companies' technological competitiveness to enhance Daejeon's industrial competitiveness as a world-class economic city."
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