Stanford sets up research center in Incheon

Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun, fourth from left, and Michael Lepeck, third from right, faculty director of the Stanford Center on the Incheon Global Campus, pose with other dignitaries after an opening ceremony for the center on Incheon Global Campus in Songdo, Thursday. Courtesy of Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority

By Bahk Eun-ji

Stanford University has opened a smart city research center in Songdo, according to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZA).

The authority and Incheon Metropolitan City held an opening ceremony for the Stanford Center on the Incheon Global Campus (SCIGC), Thursday, attended by Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun, IFEZ director Lee Won-jae and SCIGC faculty director Michael Lepeck among other dignitaries from the university, the campus and city government

The IGC is a campus shared by some of the world's most prestigious universities, and at the SCIGC, about 10 smart city-related researchers will conduct interdisciplinary studies for the efficient application of technologies with the goal of developing environmental and social sustainability for smart cities.

Among their projects will be studies concerned with financing for smart cities, sustainable urban systems, and entrepreneurship for the cities.

SCIGC plans to create joint research and cooperation programs with companies such as GS Caltex, Hyundai Motor and Google, introducing cooperative models that exist between companies and research institutes in Silicon Valley. It is also expected to help commercialize Korea's smart city studies around the world, and promote joint research between Korea and the United States.

“SCIGC is opening in Songdo, Korea's first smart city,” Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun said during the ceremony. “We expect the center to bring a synergy effect for the innovation of Songdo.”

Stanford University President Mark Tessier-Lavigne also sent a virtual congratulatory message, and said the school would seek more cooperation with the Korean government, private enterprises and other universities.

Meanwhile, in commemoration of the center's opening, the "SCIGC Smart City Symposium" was held, Friday, with researchers from Stanford University and scholars in the smart city field from other institutions participating in the event which was broadcast live online.