Gangneung City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Kim Hongkyu) has been designated as an R&D district within the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone, which is being promoted by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province with Gangneung, Chuncheon, and Wonju as key cities. This designation provides a foundation for Gangneung to emerge as a research-oriented city.
The Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone is a system that applies various special regulations, including deregulation focused on research and development, tax and financial support, and the promotion of technology commercialization.
This special zone designation covers a total area of approximately 11.7 square kilometers, including Gangneung, Chuncheon, and Wonju. Gangneung accounts for about 2.8 square kilometers of this area and has been designated as an R&D district.
In particular, Gangneung is home to several government-funded research institutes-such as the KIST Gangneung Natural Products Research Institute and the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology Gangwon Branch-located within the Gangneung Science and Industrial Complex. Since these institutions are core requirements for special zone designation, Gangneung is expected to play a central role as an advanced R&D hub following this designation.
The designated area in Gangneung includes the Gangneung Science and Industrial Complex, the Okgae District of the Gangwon Free Economic Zone, and two local universities. There are also plans to expand further to include the National Industrial Complex for Natural Products and Biotechnology in the future.
Through this designation, the city will be able to establish a virtuous cycle innovation ecosystem by revitalizing research and development focused on regional strategic industries, strengthening industry-academia-research collaboration among universities, research institutes, and companies, promoting technology commercialization and startups, and attracting outstanding research talent.
Furthermore, as the foundation is laid for directly linking R&D outcomes to commercialization and industrial growth, this is expected to significantly contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of local industries and creating high-quality jobs.
Mayor Kim Hongkyu of Gangneung stated, "The designation of the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone is a significant milestone for Gangneung to become a leading advanced R&D hub on the East Coast," adding, "We will work closely with Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and related organizations to ensure the successful establishment of the special zone and to achieve tangible results."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
