- Expanding Technology Exchange Between Daedeok Innopolis and Local Companies, and Discussing Strategies for Mutual Growth with the Regional Economy -

□ The INNOPOLIS Foundation (Chairman Byeong-Sam Kang, hereinafter referred to as 'the Foundation'), in collaboration with the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman Tae-Hee Jeong) and the Daejeon Sejong Research Institute (Director Young-Jin Kim), hosted a seminar on the 29th at 2 PM in the main conference room of the Chamber of Commerce building. This seminar was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Daedeok Innopolis.

 

○ Approximately 80 attendees participated in the event, which was organized to reflect on the significance of the past 50 years of Daedeok Innopolis and to present a vision for mutual development with the regional economy for the next 50 years.

 

□ The seminar began with an opening address by Tae-Hee Jeong, Chairman of the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce, followed by congratulatory remarks from Seok-Bong Lee, Vice Mayor of Economy and Science of Daejeon City, and Young-Jin Kim, Director of the Daejeon Sejong Research Institute. A congratulatory message from National Assembly Member Sang-Min Lee (Yuseong-gu B) was also read, followed by a commemorative photo session, keynote presentations, and an expert panel discussion..

 

○ In his opening remarks, Chairman Tae-Hee Jeong stated, "While the achievements of Daedeok Innopolis over the past 50 years are significant, the next 50 years are even more critical. To address challenges such as local population decline and the concentration of young talent in the metropolitan area, and to achieve balanced regional development, collaboration between Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon City, and local companies is essential."

 

○ In his congratulatory speech, Seok-Bong Lee, Vice Mayor of Economy and Science of Daejeon City, noted, "Although Daedeok Innopolis has been a key national research facility, it has been less accessible to the public. However, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Daejeon City, in partnership with government-funded research institutes, has agreed to gradually open the Innopolis to the public. The city will do its utmost to revitalize the local economy beyond the confines of Daedeok."

 

○ Young-Jin Kim, Director of the Daejeon Sejong Research Institute, added, "While Daedeok Innopolis has played a crucial role in the industrial development of our country, its connection to the regional economy has been somewhat lacking. Now, we must foster investment from local businesses and institutions to reinvent Daedeok Innopolis and prepare for the next 50 years."

 

○ In the first keynote presentation, Hye-Ran Hwang, Senior Research Fellow at the Daejeon Sejong Research Institute, diagnosed the achievements and challenges of Daedeok Innopolis over the past 50 years, under the theme of "Characteristics and Future Directions of Daedeok Innopolis’s Evolution over 50 Years." She highlighted successful scale-up cases of deep tech companies both domestically and internationally, emphasizing the balance between "Daedeok Innopolis Deep Tech Technology" and "Daejeon as a Problem-Solving Urban Platform."

 

○ The second presentation was delivered by Ki-Don An, Professor of Economics at Chungnam National University and Director of the Institute for Science and Technology Knowledge. He spoke on "The Daedeok Innopolis Desired by Companies: Startups, Innovative Procurement Policies, and Science Tourism," asserting that "companies are the main actors of innovation, while local governments and institutions play supporting roles." He called for cooperation between local governments and institutions to build entrepreneurial networks. He also addressed the trend of students pursuing medical school, suggesting that "if Daejeon, the science city that houses Daedeok Innopolis, is transformed into a hub of science tourism to enhance students' scientific curiosity, it could grow into a global science city."

 

○ During the final discussion session, moderated by Jin-Gi Hong, Honorary Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET), panelists including Byeong-Soon Kim, Chairman of the Daedeok Innopolis Venture Association; Han-Oh Park, Chairman and CEO of Bioneer Corporation; Jin-Ho Park, Vice Chairman of the Daejeon City Development Committee; Eun-Il Park, Director of Daedeok Innopolis Headquarters; Il-Hong Jeon, Director of the Science Cooperation Division at Daejeon City; and Ju-Seon Kim, Director of the Convergence Headquarters at the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), discussed various strategies for mutual development between Daedeok Innopolis and the regional economy.

 

○ Eun-Il Park, Director of Daedeok Innopolis Headquarters, emphasized the need for "a new path of innovation that involves the aggregation of resources from industry, academia, research institutes, government, and the private sector, as well as the establishment of a collaborative value chain platform." He called for leadership to drive the development of Daedeok Innopolis into a hub that meets the needs of companies as the main stakeholders.

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Reference

Event Photos (Original files attached)

(Photo 1) A group photo being taken at the special seminar commemorating the 50th anniversary of Daedeok Innopolis, held on the 29th at the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s main conference room. (From left in the first row) Byeong-Soon Kim, Chairman of the Daedeok Innopolis Venture Association; Ki-Don An, Professor of Economics at Chungnam National University; Seok-Bong Lee, Vice Mayor of Economy and Science of Daejeon City; Tae-Hee Jeong, Chairman of the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Hye-Ran Hwang, Senior Research Fellow at the Daejeon Sejong Research Institute; Young-Jin Kim, Director of the Daejeon Sejong Research Institute; and Eun-Il Park, Director of Daedeok Innopolis Headquarters at the INNOPOLIS Foundation.

(Photo 2) A discussion is underway at the special seminar commemorating the 50th anniversary of Daedeok Innopolis, held on the 29th at the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s main conference room. (From left) Byeong-Soon Kim, Chairman of the Daedeok Innopolis Venture Association; Han-Oh Park, CEO of Bioneer Corporation; Jin-Ho Park, Vice Chairman of the Daejeon City Development Committee; Jin-Gi Hong, Honorary Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET); Eun-Il Park, Director of Daedeok Innopolis Headquarters at the INNOPOLIS Foundation; Il-Hong Jeon, Director of the Science Cooperation Division at Daejeon City; and Seon-Ju Kim, Director of the Convergence Headquarters at the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST).