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| Incheon Global Campus, a cluster of foreign universities' campuses in Korea, is on Songdo in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ). / Courtesy of IFEZ |
By Kim Bo-eun
Cooperation between foreign universities and local businesses is growing in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), after revisions to regulations on promoting industry-academia collaboration went into effect in recent months.
The revisions which include classifying foreign universities as institutions able to collaborate with businesses went into effect in September, enabling foreign universities to set up related units and offer relevant programs.
The latest developments could turn the IFEZ into a base for industry-academia cooperation, which could become a potential engine for innovative growth in Incheon.
State University of New York (SUNY) Korea, which opened its Songdo campus in the cluster of foreign universities in the IFEZ in March 2012, became the first school to establish a division in charge of collaboration between industry and academia on Sept. 25.
The school has taken on 135 research projects worth 34.4 billion won since its opening in 2012.
The school is comprised of Stony Brook University (SBU) and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).
SBU specializes in divisions such as computer science, applied math and statistics, mechanical engineering and technology management. Based on these strengths, the school plans to conduct local and global research projects in cooperation with the Incheon government.
The department of business administration plans to boost its center for starting businesses. The technology management department plans to build students' expertise in the sectors of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).
The FIT's departments of fashion design and fashion management are seeking to introduce Incheon-based fashion business' products overseas. The institute is planning to offer programs on marketing and product development to this end.
"We will do our best so that the establishment of the industry-academia foundation will lead to greater cooperation with local businesses such as through joint projects and the development of cutting-edge technology by Incheon-based businesses, enabling progress in entering overseas markets," said Han Min-koo, SUNY Korea's vice president of research.
George Mason University plans to set up a team focused on cooperation between the university and local businesses by the end of this month. The team will seek to work with local industries as well as researchers of the school's U.S. campus.
The school has departments for dispute analysis and settlement, as well as computer game design ― sectors which are expected to be in demand in the coming years.
The university said networks of faculty members with related businesses can be utilized in conducting various projects.
The school already has the Center for Policy Study, as well as the Peace and Conflict Studies Center Asia, both of which are engaging in academic exchanges with institutions of the U.S. campus.
"We will do our best to make meaningful research achievements through cooperation with the U.S. campus and businesses based in Korea and the U.S. via our industry-academia cooperation center," George Mason University Korea Dean Robert Matz said.
Ghent University's campus has been partnering with businesses, schools and research institutes to boost industry-academia cooperation.
The school partnered with Charles River Laboratories in August to provide the company's employees with programs teaching the knowledge and skills of the bio industry starting in the spring semester of 2021.
The university plans on partnering with more companies stationed in the Songdo Bio Industry Cluster in Incheon.
The school also partnered with Incheon Jaeneung University in August to cooperate in the production and sale of baked goods incorporating local ingredients.
Ghent University's campus here is providing local ingredients such as seaweed, and Incheon Jaeneung University is utilizing its bakery infrastructure to produce baked goods with the ingredients.
"We are making efforts to develop leading marine biotechnology through a global marine project with 14 countries, contributing to the development of local bio-related technology," Ghent University Global Campus President Han Tae-jun said.
Utah University's Asia Campus, established in 2014, is seeking to set up a Center for Medical Innovation.
The center has ranked first in service quality among U.S. universities' medical centers, as well as contributing largely to the launch of startups at Utah University, which is the fourth-largest in scale among U.S. universities.
Currently, there are five foreign universities at the Incheon Global Campus ― SUNY Korea SBU, George Mason University, Ghent University, Utah University Asia Campus and SUNY Korea FIT.
A total of 3,132 students are in programs offered by the schools as of the fall semester of this year.
"We will provide support so that foreign schools which have the human resources and technology can develop into platforms for innovation in industry-academia cooperation so that they can lead development at the local and national level," IFEZ head Lee Won-jae said.
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