Suwon Successfully Secures Hosting Rights for '16th Asia-Oceania Membrane Conference'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jeong Jun-sung] Suwon Special City has successfully secured hosting rights for the '2027 16th Asia-Oceania Membrane Conference (AMS-16)'.

The city announced on the 22nd that the Suwon Convention Center Foundation (Chairman Jung Gil-bae) jointly with the Korean Membrane Society (Chairman Jang Jae-young, International Cooperation Committee Chair Nam Sang-yong), Korea Tourism Organization (Acting President Seo Young-chung), and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization (President Cho Won-yong) achieved this success through efforts to host 'AMS-16'.

The 'Asia-Oceania Membrane Conference' is a high-value-added international conference attended by approximately 800 technical researchers from seven member countries of the 'Aseanian Membrane Society (AMS)' and 18 Asian countries. It is held on a rotating basis among member countries to exchange the latest research related to membrane technology and separation processes used in various fields such as semiconductors and biotechnology.

The representative promotion institutions of the convention industry in Gyeonggi Province and Suwon participated in collaboration on the host city proposal by providing financial and convenience support for the Korean Membrane Society's challenge to attract the next conference to Suwon, Republic of Korea in 2027.

In particular, the Society and Foundation, representing the bid promotion team, visited the previous conference held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the 20th and widely promoted Suwon, a representative convention city in southern Gyeonggi. At the announcement of the host city for the next conference during the headquarters board meeting, the hosting in Suwon in 2027 was confirmed after competition with India.

A Suwon City official stated, "We actively participated in the bidding activities to promote the development of foundational technologies for the advancement of cutting-edge industries within the city, and the convenience of Suwon Convention Center and MICE complex, Gyeonggi Province's premier international conference facility, along with excellent accessibility to Incheon International Airport, had a positive impact on voters."

Along with various international conference financial and convenience support measures proposed by the Organization and Foundation, customized theme tours tailored for conference participants that allow enjoying both UNESCO World Heritage Suwon Hwaseong and K-culture at once also became a major factor in the success of Korea's bid.

Professor Nam Sang-yong, International Cooperation Committee Chair of the Korean Membrane Society and AMS President who led this bidding campaign, stated, "This successful bid demonstrates that Korea possesses excellent technological capabilities on the international stage while being a central hub of Asian cultural tourism. We will make every effort to prepare for the conference."

An official from the Foundation also said, "Through jointly attracting international events by the Korean Membrane Society, which hosts domestic conferences for the long term at Suwon Convention Center, we will increase foreign visitors and strengthen the economic ripple effects of the region, and will continue cooperation for the successful hosting of the 2027 conference."

What is the Asia-Oceania Membrane Conference (AMS-16)?

1. Aseanian Membrane Society (AMS)

- Establishment Purpose: Promoting cooperation in membrane science and technology research and international exchange within the Asian region

- History: Established in 2002 through cooperation between Korea and Japan

- Scale: Seven member countries in the Asia-Pacific region

- Major Activities: Academic conference hosting, international joint research support, joint establishment of World Association of Membrane Societies (WA-MS)

2. Korean Membrane Society (Chairman Jang Jae-young)

- Vision: Contributing to the promotion of related industries through advancing membrane science research and technology development and dissemination

- Establishment: Founded in 1987, authorized as a non-profit organization by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 1991

- Major Activities: Academic conference hosting, journal publication, international joint research support, etc.

- Bid Committee Members: Professor Nam Sang-yong of Gyeongsang National University (International Cooperation Committee Chair), Professor Kim Jong-hak of Yonsei University

3. <Previous Conference> 15th Asia-Oceania Membrane Conference

(The 15th Conference of Aseanian Membrane Society 2025)

- Date: August 19-21, 2025 ※ Held on a 1-2 year cycle

- Venue: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Berjaya Times Square Hotel

- Host: Aseanian Membrane Society (AMS), Malaysian Membrane Society

- Scale: Approximately 800 participants from 25 countries

- Hosting History: 2025 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 2024 Nanjing, China; 2023 Singapore

4. Bid Promotion Team Collaborating Organizations

- [Bid Host] Korean Membrane Society: Professor Nam Sang-yong of Gyeongsang National University, Professor Kim Jong-hak of Yonsei University, Manager Yoon Hye-jin

- [Republic of Korea] Korea Tourism Organization: MICE Division, MICE Cooperation Team

- [Gyeonggi Province] Gyeonggi Tourism Organization: Tourism Business Division, Global Marketing Team

- [Suwon City] Suwon Convention Center Foundation: MICE Headquarters, Convention Bureau Team