GWANGJU < invest Korea

Three universities of Korea, China, and Japan plan to establish a joint research institute at Gwangju

Officials of Chonnam University, the University of Kitakyushu, and Tsinghua University pose for a photo after signing an MOU to launch a joint research institute at Gwangju R&D Special Zone

Universities of Korea, China, and Japan have agreed to establish a joint research institute at Gwangju R&D Special Zone.

Gwangju Mayor Kang Un-tae and Professor Yang Gap-seung, Lee Byeong-taek, and Kim Jae-guk of Chonnam National University are visiting Japan and signed an MOU to establish ‘Korea China Japan Clean Energy International Cooperation Research Institute’ at Gwangju R&D Special Zone with the presence of the Director Yasutake Teraoka of the Research and Education Center of Carbon Resources and Professor Yun Seong-ho of the University of Kitakyushu, and the Deputy Director Gao Ce Li of the graduate school of Tsinghua University.

Gwangju City plans to invest KRW 4 billion of this year’s budget for Gwangju R&D Special Zone (KRW 6 billion) first in establishing the joint research institute, so that the institute can be launched soon.

Also, the support fund for Gwangju R&D Special Zone, provided by the central government annually, will be injected right after consultations among universities are over to make sure that a building site is purchased and the construction begins within this year.

Three universities of Korea, China, and Japan plan to confirm how the joint research institute will be operated in terms of commercializing research results of clean energy materials, holding intellectual rights and gaining profits from them, and human resource exchange.

The Joint Research Institute will encourage clean energy companies to move into Gwangju on the back of patents and theses in the field, promoting the clean energy industry as a new growth engine of the region.

When the establishment of ‘Korea China Japan Clean Energy International Cooperation Research Institute’ is confirmed, the University of Tokyo, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Peking University will join the effort.

Gwangju Mayor Kang Un-tae said “it is very significant that universities of Korea, China, and Japan have decided to open a joint research institute in Gwangju, as it will lay the groundwork for Gwangju R&D Special Zone to grow into an international special zone,” and added “Gwangju City will provide financial and administrative support to open the Institute as soon as possible.”

Source Text

Source; Yonhap News (Feb. 21, 2011)

**This is an English translation of a Korean news article.