BISTEP Publishes Report on Residential Environment Based on University Talent and Industrial Structure in Busan

Growth of Technology Startups and Listed Companies in the Spotlight
Policy Implications for Talent Retention Presented

The Busan Institute for Science and Technology Promotion in Higher Education (BISTEP, President Kim Youngboo), the dedicated agency for R&D-based regional science and technology policy in Busan, announced on December 24 that it has published an information analysis report titled "Residential Environment from the Perspective of University Talent and Industrial Structure in the Busan Region."

This report was initiated to provide foundational data for advancing the Regional Innovation-led University Support System (RISE) under local leadership, amid the growing importance of nurturing local talent and enhancing residential stability. In particular, it comprehensively analyzes the industrial structure and talent absorption capacity of the Busan region, focusing on deriving policy implications for sustainable regional growth and the improvement of living conditions.

The industry analysis section of the report highlights the talent absorption capacity of industries, offering a multifaceted analysis of the industrial status, industrial competitiveness, industrial ecosystem, job market, and degree of industry specialization. As a result, it was found that the proportion of technology-based startups in Busan has been steadily increasing, and the scale of venture investment attraction has grown at an average annual rate of 14.5% over the past four years, indicating that the startup and investment ecosystem continues to expand.

Busan City Venture Investment Attraction Performance (Venture Investment Comprehensive Portal, "Investment Attraction by Region" Reprocessed).

Furthermore, among the 82 listed companies in the Busan region, 50 have gone public since the 2000s, accounting for more than half. It was also found that a high proportion of these companies were listed within 10 years of their founding. This demonstrates that Busan-based companies are entering the market relatively quickly, leveraging their technological competitiveness and growth potential.

Listing Periods by Stock Market.

Additionally, statistics related to the working conditions and willingness to settle among workers in Busan showed generally positive responses. Based on these findings, the report suggests that policy support is needed to foster advanced technology-based listed companies in order to expand the residential population. In particular, it forecasts that strengthening step-by-step support for companies with proven growth potential to progress from startups to listed companies-beyond simply supporting startups-will lead to tangible results in expanding quality jobs and increasing employment impact within the region.

Lim Hyungbin, a researcher at BISTEP, stated, "The industrial structure of Busan is undergoing a qualitative transformation, and it has significant potential to greatly enhance its capacity to absorb local talent in the future. We hope that the results of this study will lead to further research and policy discussions, centered on universities and related institutions in Busan, ultimately contributing to the settlement of local talent and the creation of stable jobs in the region."