| 4 Centers Specializing in Regional Innovation and Growth Sectors
Selected by Changwon National University, Yeungnam University, Jeonbuk National University, and Soonchunhyang University
1.5 billion won provided annually for basic research for 7 years


The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 20th that it has selected 'Regional Leading Research Centers (RLRCs)' to consolidate basic research capabilities centered on regional universities and encourage the growth of outstanding regional talent.

The Regional Innovation Leading Research Center was established this year to foster excellent local researchers and spread research results within and outside the region by dividing non-metropolitan areas into four major zones and supporting basic research on innovation growth fields determined independently by each zone.

The Ministry of Science and ICT newly selected a total of four universities as Regional Innovation Leading Research Centers for 2019: Changwon National University (Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam), Yeungnam University (Daegu, Gyeongbuk, Gangwon), Jeonbuk National University (Gwangju, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Jeju), and Soonchunhyang University (Daejeon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Sejong).

The 14 regions independently identified demand for innovative growth sectors earlier this year, and the Ministry of Science and ICT received proposals for projects in each innovation sector and conducted an in-depth evaluation of the alignment with the region's innovative growth sector, the creativity and challenge of the research, and the excellence of the research group.

The four Regional Innovation Leading Research Centers selected this year will each, over the next seven years Basic research will be conducted with support of approximately 1.5 billion won per year.

Starting with four centers, we plan to continuously establish leading research centers so that excellent researchers within the same region can contribute to regional development through creative and challenging research.

Ko Seo-gon, Director General of Basic and Original Research Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “We plan to expand support to help develop innovative fields based on basic research tailored to the unique characteristics of local universities, research institutes, companies, and researchers.”