Signal Regions draft their own S&T innovation plans around advanced technologies

Summary

Region-specific science and technology innovation plans, planned by local governments with administrative and financial support from the science ministry, were drawn up in 2024 and 2025. Each region builds on distinct strengths, combining innovation hubs with its own capacity and industrial base to form self-sustaining ecosystems and prepare future industries. Daejeon focuses on deep tech such as defense semiconductors and advanced bio, Gwangju on AI transformation such as advanced mobility, and Busan on eco-friendly and digital fields such as power semiconductors. The author expects this early preparation to catalyze a fundamental change in the paradigm of balanced growth based on advanced science and technology. If regions share out specialized value chains beyond the single-pole concentration on the capital area, supra-regional supply chains can form and national industrial resilience to external shocks can rise. Local universities training tailored talent and local governments offering test beds could also create quality jobs and stem the outflow of skilled people to the capital.