Expansion from 1.32km² to 1.77km² Announced
Securing Space for Research, Start-ups, and Scaling Up
150 Research and Start-up Companies Expected in 5 Years
Nearly 1 Trillion Won in Sales Projected
The Cheonan-Asan Small and Medium-Sized Research and Development Zone in Chungnam has entered a full-fledged phase of growth in 'research, start-up, and commercialization' through spatial expansion.
This measure aims to address space shortages caused by the increasing number of companies in the zone, while simultaneously strengthening research and development (R&D) and technology commercialization. Over the next five years, it is expected to result in the establishment of 150 companies and generate nearly 1 trillion won in economic impact.
The Chungnam Provincial Government announced on December 30 that the Ministry of Science and ICT has officially notified a partial amendment to expand the area of the 'Cheonan-Asan Small and Medium-Sized Research and Development Zone,' as part of efforts to enhance regional innovation capacity and revitalize the local economy.
With this amendment, the zone's area has expanded from 1.32 square kilometers to 1.77 square kilometers. Newly included areas are Buldang-dong and Pungse-myeon in Cheonan, Baebang-eup and Tangjeong-myeon in Asan, as well as part of Umbong-myeon in Asan.
This action was taken in response to the growing reality of space shortages, as the number of start-ups and research-oriented companies moving into the zone has rapidly increased.
The expanded area consists of a 0.35 square kilometer R&D Start-up Convergence District (part of Asan Tangjeong 2 Urban Development District) serving as a support space, and a 0.10 square kilometer Technology Commercialization District (part of Cheonan's 6th General Industrial Complex).
The provincial government plans to systematically separate and expand spaces for each stage of growth, from research and development to commercialization and corporate scaling, through this expansion.
The zone is operated with a focus on future mobility electronic component technology, led by the Korea Automotive Technology Institute.
The province plans to strengthen R&D functions centered on core technology institutions, and significantly increase space for companies to move in, in order to promote technology transfer and commercialization.
In addition, support programs to foster the growth of venture and start-up companies will be implemented in parallel.
The expanded Asan area will be used as a space for start-ups and early-stage ventures, while the Cheonan area will be developed as a scaling-up hub for companies entering the growth phase, including the expansion of production facilities.
With this expansion, the province expects that over the next five years (2027-2031), 150 research-oriented and start-up companies (over 20 annually) will be established, and the total sales of resident companies will reach 998 billion won, with an annual average of 199.6 billion won. The province also anticipates broader regional innovation effects, such as industrial and technological growth, job creation, and improvements in education and residential environments.
Furthermore, with the full-scale implementation of the second phase of the specialized development project for the zone (2026-2030, worth 20 billion won), which passed in May, the growth of Chungnam's strategic industry in future mobility electronic component technology is expected to accelerate.
An official from the provincial government stated, "This expansion is not just about increasing space, but marks a turning point in advancing the venture and start-up ecosystem. By linking with the Bay Valley Free Economic Zone, we aim to create a virtuous cycle of technological innovation and start-up growth."
Meanwhile, the Small and Medium-Sized Research and Development Zone is a system promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT to vitalize technology start-ups utilizing public institution patents and to foster regional R&D hubs.
Zones designated under this system receive a variety of administrative and financial support, including funding and infrastructure for technology commercialization, regulatory exemptions for new technology demonstrations, and national and local tax reductions.
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