Choi Sunga: "GINI Will Emerge as an Innovation Alliance Sharing Technology and Talent"

GINI Hosts 3rd World Innovative Cities Forum

Korea National Nano Fab Center, Max Planck and others present a science-based vision for urban innovation

Photo by Daejeon City

On the 24th (local time), Daejeon City successfully hosted the 3rd World Innovative Cities Forum, the main event of the Global Innovative Cities of Knowledge and Industry (GINI), at the Malaga Convention Center in Spain.

This forum was held in conjunction with Transfiere, one of Europe’s leading technology transfer exhibitions.

About 200 participants, including representatives from GINI member cities, local European scientists, and officials from research institutions, attended the event and engaged in in-depth discussions under the theme of “Science and Technology-Based Sustainable Urban Innovation.”

Keynote speeches were delivered by Park Heungsoo, President of the Korea National Nano Fab Center, and Herbert Waldmann, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Germany, who each presented on the impact of “advanced infrastructure (nano and semiconductors)” and “basic science (bio)” on urban competitiveness.

Photo provided by Daejeon City

In the ensuing dialogue, the two scholars reaffirmed GINI’s vision as a “science city” by sharing concrete success stories on how to link basic research outcomes to industry, and on what roles research institutes and local governments should play in fostering startups.

The enthusiasm of the event continued into academic exchange. Hanbat National University and the University of Malaga held a separate joint session and agreed to cooperate on “nurturing future talent” to sustain innovation in both cities.

The two universities held working-level consultations to identify joint industry-academia cooperation projects, establishing a multidimensional collaboration framework that encompasses both technology and people.

Choi seonga, Deputy Mayor for Political, Economic and Science Affairs of Daejeon City (Photo by Daejeon City)

Choi Sunga, Vice Mayor for Political, Economic and Science Affairs of Daejeon City, said, “Today’s forum went beyond simple knowledge sharing and proved that Daejeon’s research capabilities and infrastructure are effective on the European stage as well,” adding, “The Global Innovative Cities of Knowledge and Industry will grow into a powerful innovation alliance that shares technology and talent.”