Ministry of Science and ICT Announces Gangwon R&D Special Zone
Wonju Designated as Largest Area at 5.52 km²
Wonju Secures 10 Billion Won in Annual National Funding
Full-Scale Promotion of Advanced Industries Based on National R&D
With the Ministry of Science and ICT officially announcing the designation of the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone on December 22, Wonju City is now equipped with an institutional foundation directly linked to the national research and development (R&D) policy.
Wonju City Secures Growth Engines for Semiconductor and Digital Healthcare Industries through Designation as Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone. Photo by Wonju City
As a result, Wonju's leading industries-semiconductors and digital healthcare-have reached a significant turning point within the national R&D framework.
A total area of 5.52 square kilometers, including the corporate city, six industrial complexes, three universities, and research institutes, has been designated as part of the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone, making it the largest area within the zone. Wonju will serve as a key hub, connecting research achievements in semiconductors and digital healthcare to business growth and industrial activities.
Approximately 10 billion won in national funding will be invested in the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone each year. Companies within the zone will receive extensive institutional and financial support throughout the entire process of research and development, technology transfer, and commercialization.
Through various benefits-such as national and local tax reductions (ranging from 50% to 100%), support from special zone funds, regulatory sandbox exemptions for new technology demonstrations, relaxed construction regulations, support for establishing research-based companies, and preferential use of national and public assets-companies will be able to reduce investment burdens and accelerate the commercialization of their technologies.
Within the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone, Wonju will be responsible for the demonstration and commercialization of digital healthcare and semiconductor technologies. The city plans to establish an industrial ecosystem that develops and produces customized smart healthcare and AI- and sensor-based predictive management solutions, leveraging local universities and the Wonju Medical Device Cluster.
Wonju has long focused on fostering the digital healthcare industry, building on its foundation in the medical device sector and infrastructure from universities, hospitals, and public institutions. In particular, the city is strategically advancing the WAH (Wonju AI for Healthcare) project, which combines public medical data, the medical device industry ecosystem, and research institution capabilities with AI technology. Wonju is also actively working to attract the 'AI Digital-Based Advanced Medical Complex' to the city.
In the semiconductor sector, Wonju is simultaneously developing testbeds such as the 'Semiconductor Consumables Demonstration Center' and operating specialized training centers like the 'Korea Semiconductor Academy' and the 'Medical AI Semiconductor Talent Development Center.' In addition, investments from key companies in semiconductor materials and parts, such as DS Techno and GQL, are helping to gradually complete an industrial ecosystem that integrates technology, talent, and business.
With Wonju's established industrial base and infrastructure now combined with national R&D commercialization support through the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone designation, the development of advanced technologies in fields such as semiconductors and digital healthcare is expected to accelerate, serving as a new growth engine to drive the regional economy.
Won Kangsoo, Mayor of Wonju, stated, "The designation of the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone is significant because it provides the institutional environment and support for Wonju's accumulated industrial strategies to advance through national R&D, demonstration, and commercialization stages. We will focus our capabilities on helping companies strengthen their technological competitiveness in semiconductors and digital healthcare, and on creating new growth opportunities in advanced future industries."
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