Kyunghee University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Ajou University Selected for New 'Gyeonggi-do Regional Collaboration Research Centers'

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] Gyeonggi-do has finalized the selection of four institutions—Kyunghee University, Sungkyunkwan University (both in the semiconductor field), Ajou University (biomedical field), and Korea Aerospace University (advanced mobility field)—for the new 'Gyeonggi-do Regional Collaboration Research Centers (GRRC)'.

According to the province on the 25th, following written reviews, on-site inspections and presentations by the evaluation committee, and deliberation by the Gyeonggi-do Science and Technology Promotion Committee, four universities from among 10 universities and 11 applications that submitted business proposals since May were finalized as new GRRC cultivation centers.

The newly selected centers in detail are as follows: ▲Kyunghee University (Global Next-Generation Semiconductor Research Center, Director Park Jong-wook) ▲Sungkyunkwan University (Next-Generation Semiconductor Materials and Process Research Center, Director Kim Hyung-seop) ▲Ajou University (Aging-Related Intractable Disease Response Technology Research Center, Director Jung Yi-suk) ▲Korea Aerospace University (Advanced Mobility Convergence Technology Research Center, Director Bae Jae-sung).

The newly selected centers are scheduled to receive 500 million won annually in research funding from Gyeonggi-do for six years until June 2029 to conduct research projects. In the process, they will also provide technology transfer to companies in the region, support commercialization, and cultivate specialized research and development (R&D;) manpower for regional industrial development.

In particular, in terms of regional cooperation for solving local issues and supporting enterprises, the cities of Suwon, Yongin, and Goyang where the respective universities are located will actively cooperate by providing 100 to 150 million won annually.

Kim Hyun-dae, Director of the Future Growth Industry Bureau of Gyeonggi-do, stated, "Gyeonggi-do is a region with excellent university research infrastructure and cutting-edge companies at the national level, where a leading role in future industries is required. Through the accumulated technological capabilities and innovative ideas of the newly selected research centers, we will continuously provide growth momentum to companies participating in research projects and play an active role in leading Gyeonggi-do's future advanced industries."

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi-do Regional Collaboration Research Centers (GRRC) project, which began in 1997, is a representative industry-academia-research cooperation project of Gyeonggi-do that supports technology development by utilizing research resources from universities and research institutes in the province to address issues such as funding, technological capabilities, and workforce acquisition that small and medium-sized enterprises face during product development.

It was introduced as an excellent case in the 'University Creative Asset Commercialization Support Project Basic Plan' announced by the Ministry of Education in April, under the category of 'serving as a hub for technology commercialization within the region through industry-academia cooperation'.