Four companies move in... First Vice Minister Kim Yi-tak: 'Hope it becomes a growth hub bringing together regional firms and talent'
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups completed and opened an industry-academia-research innovation hub at Kangwon National University's Chuncheon campus on Wednesday.
The innovation park project is a joint effort by the government, universities and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation to build innovation hub buildings on university campuses. These buildings support the move-in of startups and growth companies as well as industry-academia-research cooperation. Since 2019, nine universities have been selected through four rounds of public bidding to develop advanced urban industrial complexes. Among the universities picked in the first round, Hanyang University's Erica campus is scheduled to be completed in the first half of next year.
This marks the first opening among regional flagship national universities under the government-led project, and the second nationwide after Hannam University, which was completed in late 2024.
Kangwon National University and LH jointly served as project operators. LH developed the first-phase site, spanning 28,000 square meters, before completing the industry-academia-research innovation hub there. The second-phase site, covering 38,000 square meters, is currently being developed under the university's leadership.
The newly opened hub sits on a 14,765-square-meter site and comprises one basement level and eight above-ground floors, with a total floor area of 22,285 square meters. It houses 98 independent office spaces for companies and institutions, advanced research equipment and facilities shared by campus researchers and students, and comfortable support spaces tailored to tenant companies.
As of August, 44 companies had signed contracts for 53 units and are in the process of moving in. Tenant companies can stay for up to 10 years at rents lower than the surrounding market price.
The site has also been designated as part of the Gangwon Province biotech and pharmaceutical national advanced strategic industry complex, the Gangwon research and development special zone, and a green biotech industry promotion zone, allowing tenant companies to receive support tailored to their industry and growth stage from among various special zone benefits.
The Ministry of Education plans to expand opportunities for Kangwon National University students to participate through project labs and research and development internships. It will also focus support on equipment for prototype production and testing and evaluation, as well as programs to help companies grow through technology development, commercialization and marketing.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to support tenant companies at the innovation park by linking them organically with key support projects. This will strengthen the park's role as a hub for the region's innovation and startup ecosystem.
First Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yi-tak, who attended the completion ceremony that day, said, "I hope Kangwon National University's campus innovation park will go beyond simply being rental space for companies, and instead become a growth hub where young people's startups and growth companies' innovative ideas take shape, and where companies and talent in the Gangwon region gather to communicate with the local community."
smh@heraldcorp.com
