The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it held a completion ceremony and opening event for the "Kangwon National University campus innovation park industry-academia-research innovation hub" on the 9th at Kangwon National University's Chuncheon campus, together with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
This is a project in which the government, universities, and Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) work together to build an innovation hub building on campus grounds and support the move-in of startups and growth companies, as well as cooperation among industry, academia, and research. Among regional flagship national universities, this is the first time such a facility has been completed and opened. Nationwide, it is the second achievement after Hannam University.
LH and Kangwon National University joined hands to lead the project, completing the development of a first-phase site of 28,000 square meters and then finishing construction of the hub building. The second-phase site, spanning 38,000 square meters, is currently being developed with the university taking the lead.
The innovation hub building, constructed with one basement level and eight above-ground floors and a total floor area of 22,285 square meters, is equipped with 98 independent offices for corporations and institutions, advanced research equipment shared by on-campus researchers and students, and customized support facilities. As of last month, 44 companies had already signed contracts for 53 rooms and were moving in, and these corporations are guaranteed stable business operations for up to 10 years at rents below market rates.
Interagency support will also be closely coordinated. The Ministry of Education will run research and development (R&D) internships and project lab programs that connect Kangwon National University students with corporations, and will assist with prototype production, technology development, and marketing. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) also plans to link existing support programs to cultivate this place as a core of the regional startup ecosystem.
In particular, the space overlaps with designations such as the Gangwon bio and pharmaceuticals national advanced strategic industry specialized complex, the research and development special zone, and the green bio promotion district, enabling tenant corporations to enjoy a wide range of special-zone benefits tailored to their industries and growth stages at the same time.
The government expects this infrastructure build-out to significantly help increase advanced jobs favored by young people and encourage them to settle in the region.
Kim Ei-tak, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "I hope the Kangwon National University campus innovation park will go beyond a simple corporate leasing space to become a growth hub where the innovative ideas of youth startups and growth corporations are realized and where Gangwon-area corporations and talent gather in communication with the local community."