On November 6, YU hosts the “Regional Innovation and Collaborative Growth Forum” to address the Era of Local Autonomy.

Jointly organized by YU and Gyeongsan City, with the YU Regional Innovation and Growth Center (RIGC) taking the lead.

Exploring strategies for revitalizing regional economies through collaboration among local governments, universities, and businesses.

[November 6, 2024]

YU (President CHOI Oe-chool), held a forum aimed at fostering collaborative growth and regional innovation in response to the Era of Local Autonomy.

 The forum, titled "A City Ideal for Businesses, Future Gyeongsan", took place on the morning of November 6 at the LEE Siwon Global Convention Hall in the Cheonma Art Center at YU. It explored pathways for synergy among local communities, universities, and businesses.Co-hosted by YU and Gyeongsan City, the event gathered 150 participants, including YU President CHOI Oe-chool, Gyeongsan Mayor CHO Hyun-il, Presidential Committee on Local Autonomy Chairperson PARK Sung-jin, Gyeongsan City Council Chair AHN Moon-gil, Gyeongbuk IT Convergence Industry Institute Director YOON Chil-seok, SOUL Materials CEO JUNG In-cheol, local public officials, citizens, and students.

 The forum featured two sessions. In the first session, PARK Sung-jin, Chair of the Presidential Committee on Local Autonomy and professor at POSTECH, delivered a keynote presentation on “Revitalizing the Regional Economy through Synergy: Roles of Local Governments, Universities, and Businesses”, followed by a panel discussion. The second session, themed “A New Leap for Gyeongsan as a Business-Friendly City”, included presentations by Gyeongsan City’s Corporate Policy Division Manager MOON Eun-young on “Achievements of Local Business Support Policies”, DAEGYUNG Techno-Management Cooperative Director LEE Jung-bok on “Proposals for Regional Economic Revitalization through SME Support”, and Gyeongbuk Research Institute’s LIM Kyu-chae on “Gyeongsan’s Economy and Industrial Structure”. 

<Gyeongsan Mayor CHO Hyun-il delivers congratulatory remarks at the forum.>

Gyeongsan Mayor Cho Hyun-il emphasized the importance of partnership, saying, “Amid challenges such as declining school-age and youth populations and aging demographics, Gyeongsan City will provide administrative and financial support to transform into a city attractive to youth and businesses by working closely with YU and other local universities and enterprises. I hope this forum serves as a platform to identify practical solutions for revitalizing the regional economy.”

<CHOI Oe-chool, President of Yeungnam University, delivering a welcoming address at the forum.>

YU President CHOI Oe-chool, in his welcoming address, stated, “This forum serves as a crucial opportunity to establish a collaborative network among local governments, businesses, and universities to promote mutual growth. I hope this platform will not only present actionable policy solutions for revitalizing the local economy but also improve the quality of life for citizens. YU will continue to lead regional innovation and actively strive to foster mutual growth between the university and the local community. Furthermore, it will dedicate itself to nurturing talented individuals who can contribute to the development of the region, the nation, and even the shared prosperity of the global community." 

 Meanwhile, YU's Regional Innovation and Growth Collaboration Center (RIGC) was established as part of a collaborative effort between YU and Gyeongsan City to pursue sustainable regional growth and development. This initiative was formalized with a MOU signed in May of last year, and the center officially opened on YU’s campus in July of the same year.   This marks the first example of a local government and a university realizing the value of mutual growth and establishing a collaborative partnership, serving as a significant starting point for leading the era of regional autonomy.   Through the RIGC, the university plans to create a successful model of cooperative governance, enabling universities, local governments, residents, and businesses to grow together in pursuit of regional innovation.