The Science and Technology Policy Institute, together with Changwon National University and Changwon Research Institute, co-hosted the 463rd STEPI Science and Technology Policy Forum on April 17 (Thursday) at 2:00 PM in the Insong Hall on the 2nd floor of the Changwon National University Main Building under the theme of “Innovative Companies Returning Corridor: Changwon Regional Innovation Ecosystem and the Role of Glocal Universities.”
The forum, which kicked off with an opening speech by
Ji-woong Yoon, President of the Science and Technology Policy Institute, and welcoming speeches by Min-won Park, President of Changwon National University, and In-sik Hwang, President of the Changwon Research Institute, was organized to explore strategies for restructuring regional innovation ecosystems based on science and technology and the role of glocal universities.
In his opening speech, Ji-woong Yoon, President of the Science and Technology Policy Institute, stated that “Each region in our country is pursuing its own unique development model based on its own resources and history,” and that “STEPI has continuously conducted policy research to strengthen regional innovation capabilities and sustainable development.”
Along with this, he said, “In the “de-globalization era” where the recent trend for globalization is being upended and regional innovation strategies are being emphasized, “creating a glocal regional innovation ecosystem” is a major topic,” and added, “At today’s forum, I hope that there will be in-depth discussions with reference to case studies from the Changwon region on the restructuring of the science and technology-based regional innovation ecosystem and the role of glocal universities in the era of unlimited high-tech competition.”
In his welcoming speech, Min-won Park, President of Changwon National University, said, “It is important to establish a virtuous cycle structure where research needed by the region is conducted within the region and the benefits of related results are returned to local companies and citizens,” and expressed his hope that the forum would become a new venue for cooperation.
In his own welcoming speech, In-sik Hwang, President of the Changwon Research Institute, also noted that he hoped the day’s discussions would not stop at discourse but would become the cornerstone for creating a practical corridor where policies and systems, education and technology, talent and companies meet.
The first presentation of the forum proper was given by Associate Research Fellow Hyeon-ik Lee (STEPI), who introduced a plan to strengthen regional innovation capabilities, such as fostering future industries and attracting talent, with reference to an analysis of the Gyeongsangnam-do industrial and science and technology innovation environment, including the Changwon National Industrial Complex, under the title, “Diagnosis of Gyeongsangnam-do’s regional innovation capabilities and future industry fostering plan.”
In particular, the government emphasized that the detailed strategy of establishing regional customized talent policy, which has been set as a national task, emphasizes the role of the region, and that the responsibility for fostering regional talent should be strengthened, such as ▲establishing a talent fostering-employment-settlement system tailored to regional industries ▲pursuing startup/industry-academia cooperation centered on regional universities and attracting outstanding international students.
In addition, Vice President of Academic Affairs Yeong-tae Jo (Changwon National University) gave a presentation on the direction of innovation and key tasks for glocal universities based on Changwon National University under the theme of “Cooperation Model between Regional Hub Universities and Government-funded Research Institutes in Changwon,” and Visiting Professor Young-dall Lee (The City University of New York) gave a presentation on the strategy for fostering a glocal innovation ecosystem in the region under the theme of “Strategies for Fostering a Regional Glocal Innovation Ecosystem” where he expounded on the limitations of the existing growth model in the Changwon region and measures to overcome them.
In a panel discussion moderated by Wi-jin Song, Policy Committee Chairperson of the Korean Network of Living Labs, former CEO Dong-hyeong Lee (Cyworld), CEO Jong-in Kim (DX Solutions), Director Don-ha Hwang (Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute), Vice President for Industry-Academic Cooperation Jong-gyu Park (Changwon National University), Research Fellow Ho-jin Jeong (Changwon Research Institute), Senior Research Fellow Ji-eun Seong (STEPI), and Director Jeong-guk Seo (Changwon City) participated to share the current status and issues of the domestic regional innovation ecosystem and discuss effective ways to foster a glocal innovation ecosystem.