The Small Enterprise and Market Service said on the 24th that it signed a "2026 local content-focused university business agreement" with 15 regional universities.
This agreement is part of the "local content-focused university" project, which is the consolidation of a region's unique assets and characteristics into innovative business models, designed to combine universities' specialized education programs with local industries to help young people settle in the region and energize the local economy.
The 15 universities that signed the agreement this year were selected through an open call: ▲ Catholic Kwandong University (Gangneung, Gangwon) ▲ Gyeongsang National University (Jinju, South Gyeongsang) ▲ Kyung Hee University (Yongin, Gyeonggi) ▲ Keimyung University (Dalseo District, Daegu) ▲ Korea National University of Transportation (Chungju, North Chungcheong) ▲ Tongmyong University (Nam District, Busan) ▲ Dongshin University (Naju, South Jeolla) ▲ Mokwon University (Seo District, Daejeon) ▲ Busan University of Foreign Studies (Geumjeong District, Busan) ▲ Seoul Institute of the Arts (Ansan, Gyeonggi) ▲ Jaeneung College (Dong District, Incheon) ▲ Jeonju University (Jeonju, North Jeolla) ▲ Jeju Tourism University (Jeju City, Jeju) ▲ Chungnam National University (Yuseong District, Daejeon) ▲ Hongik University Sejong Campus (Jochiwon-eup, Sejong).
The "local content-focused university" project is run by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and SEMAS, and is a program that trains region-based prospective entrepreneurs in cooperation with universities that have the will to solve local problems and the capacity to develop local content. It started with seven universities in 2023, expanded to 14 last year, and 15 this year.
SEMAS and the 15 regional universities will use this agreement as a starting point to fully launch a cooperative system to build a region-based local startup ecosystem and foster young entrepreneurs.
SEMAS plans to strengthen regional linkages through collaborative programs connected with traditional markets and areas at risk of population decline, and to produce tangible startup outcomes by holding a local startup idea competition in which university students and local small business owners participate together.
Participating universities will run microdegree and master's programs alongside hands-on, experiential extracurricular programs. Through local startup practicums, prototype development, and startup club activities, universities will support the discovery of creative startup items and the advancement of business models.
In Tae-yeon, chair of SEMAS, said, "Local content-focused universities are a growth strategy where regional assets and young people's ideas meet to create new value," adding, "We will do our best to build a sustainable local ecosystem by combining universities' research and education capabilities with the vivid resources of the local field."