Suwon R&D Science Park to Be Designated as Urban Development Zone in January

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] The construction site for Suwon R&D; Science Park will be designated as an urban development zone in January next year.

Suwon Metropolitan City held a civic briefing on the 'Suwon R&D; Science Park Development Project' on the 8th at Ilwol Sukmok-won Mulbich Nuri Hall, with attendance from Mayor Lee Jae-jun, Metropolitan Council Chairman Lee Jae-sik, local residents, Representative Baek Hye-ryeon (Suwon District B), Suwon Metropolitan Council members, and Sungkyunkwan University officials.

At the briefing, Mayor Lee Jae-jun explained the project's progress to citizens.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "The Suwon R&D; Science Park possesses four success factors for an advanced scientific research city: an abundant talent pool, a grid-based transportation network, an excellent residential environment, and high corporate relocation demand."

The Suwon R&D; Science Park development project involves creating an advanced scientific research complex on a 352,600 square meter site in the vicinity of Ipbuk-dong, Gwonseon-gu. The goal is to attract advanced research companies in R&D;, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, IT, biotechnology, and other high-tech fields to leap forward as a 'global advanced R&D; hub' leading the world.

Plans are to develop R&D; facilities and industry-academia cooperation centers at the Science Park. Joint residential buildings, parks, and green spaces will also be established for researchers and workers.

Surrounding the R&D; Science Park are Sungkyunkwan University's Natural Sciences Campus, a semiconductor-specialized university that produces outstanding research talent, and Tapdong Innovation Valley, which is expected to facilitate active industry-academia-research collaboration.

Accessibility is also excellent. It is adjacent to Sungkyunkwan University Station on Line 1 of the national railway and Guun Station on the Bundang Line extension to Gwanggyo-Homaeusil, and is within a 5-minute drive from the Dangsoo interchange and Geumgok interchange on the Pyeongtaek-Paju Expressway.

The city plans to designate a 1 million pyeong (3.3㎢) 'Suwon Economic Free Zone' centered on the R&D; Science Park and Tapdong Innovation Valley to create a Korean Silicon Valley.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "Once the R&D; Science Park is completed, companies will gather, jobs will increase, and the region will experience overall growth," and stated, "The R&D; Science Park is not merely a development project but a starting line for moving toward Suwon's future."