Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at Daejeon Metropolitan City Hall, May 17. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

DAEJEON — Daejeon Metropolitan City seeks to establish the Global Innopolis Alliance (GIA), leveraging its top-tier science and technology infrastructure in Korea to build a network platform for global cities and businesses.

"The city's capabilities can yield far better results through cooperation with other global cities that have strength and potential in science and technology, by establishing joint research initiatives and mutual exchange programs," Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.

The city holds a prestigious position, ranking first in Asia and third worldwide in science and technology intensity, according to the 2022 Global Innovation Index released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in March last year.

Lee highlighted the limitations of traditional city partnerships, which have typically focused on administrative policy exchanges. He noted that these relationships often fall short of fostering substantive cooperation.

To address this, Daejeon proposed the establishment of the GIA last October at the World Innovation Forum held in the city. The initiative aims to forge more effective and cooperative relationships between cities, with a focus on exchanges in the science and technology sectors.

Cities that attended last year's forum, including Seattle in the United States, Calgary in Canada, Dortmund in Germany and Malaga in Spain, are now in discussions to join the alliance. Montgomery County in the U.S., which also participated in the forum is considering to join.

"Our goal is to create a practical tool for mutual benefit by integrating research institutes, universities and city officials to support research and active exchanges in the science and technology sectors," Lee said.

"We aim to promote Daejeon's scientific and technological prowess and its excellent companies through close exchanges with a select group of advanced science cities, driving the city's economic development."

The inaugural GIA ceremony is scheduled for September this year, with ongoing discussions to foster programs linking science and technology with economic exchanges globally.

The city government anticipates that the alliance, which will include local businesses, institutes and universities, will serve as an economic platform connecting science and technology with global commerce.

A virtual image of a biomedical innovation district in Daejeon / Courtesy of Daejeon Metropolitan City

Lee emphasized the city's potential, noting that it produces some of Korea's most innovative technologies. However, he acknowledged that the city's economic growth has not yet matched its technological capabilities.

"The most important prerequisite for becoming a leading city is resolving economic issues," he said.

To address these economic challenges, Daejeon is increasing investments in industrial land development, corporate startups, medium-sized companies and support for new technologies.

"There should be quality jobs, and the size of the city's economy should be large. We are investing in these areas to promote more quality jobs," Lee said, highlighting the importance of the economic growth of the city.

The city established Korea Innopolis in its Daedeok District, integrating the existing Daedeok R&D complex and Daedeok Techno Valley in 2005.

This hub is the birthplace of Korean science and technology, hosting government-funded institutions, private research institutes, 2,300 venture companies, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and approximately 30,000 master's and doctoral researchers.

As of 2022, corporate sales in this zone reached 25 trillion won. With 57 companies listed, Daejeon's economic scale continues to expand.

Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo, right, poses with Matthias Heinzel, center, CEO of the Life Science business at Merck, and then-Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang after signing an investment cooperation memorandum of understanding for Merck to establish a new bioprocessing unit in Daejeon for the Asia-Pacific region, May 3, 2023. Courtesy of Daejeon Metropolitan City

In addition, Daejeon is expanding its global partnerships in the bio-industry, science and technology sectors.

The city has been actively seeking investment from international companies. In March, the German multinational science and technology company Merck announced a 430 billion won ($316 million) investment to build a new bioprocessing production center in Daejeon.

Daejeon is also enhancing its competitiveness as a global bio hub through active exchanges with overseas cities.

Economic authorities from overseas, including Seattle and Montgomery County in the U.S., visited Daejeon in April and May respectively. These visits facilitated exchanges between bio and new technology companies.

Delegations from Seattle toured Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the nation's sole aircraft maker, and KAIST, the nation's first research-oriented science and engineering university in Daejeon, while Montgomery County's delegation visited key institutions such as the Institute of Basic Science and LegoChem Biosciences.

Lee and the city delegates plan to visit Seattle and Montgomery County in June to continue these practical exchanges.

"We expect this to serve as a bridge for the overseas expansion of local companies," he said.

A virtual image of a building for the establishment of bio sector companies / Courtesy of Daejeon Metropolitan City

Lee highlighted that Daejeon is a venture-oriented cluster, home to innovative new drug R&D companies and a well-established bio-ecosystem with a 30-year history and highly skilled professionals.

"Unlike other cities that focus primarily on production facilities, Daejeon is dedicated to research and the creation of innovative, new technologies," he said.

"The city will focus on supporting various startups, which often grow into medium-sized firms."

He outlined three strategies for achieving economic growth through technology: helping startups evolve into medium-sized companies, attracting facilities from global multinational corporations to Daejeon and drawing research institutes of global companies to the city.

"I believe many global multinational corporations should be attracted to Daejeon to create quality jobs through global alliances," he said.

"With our excellent technology, our goal is to create good and quality jobs and make Daejeon a leading city, driving economic growth in the region."

Who is Lee Jang-woo?

Lee Jang-woo, the mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City, has a notable political background. Serving as the eighth mayor of Daejeon since 2022, he previously represented the city in Dong District in the 19th and 20th National Assembly from 2012 to 2020.

Born in Cheongyang, South Chungcheong Province, Lee graduated from Daejeon University with a degree in administration. His political career includes serving as a spokesperson and member of the Supreme Council for the ruling Saenuri Party, the predecessor to the People Power Party (PPP). Before his mayoral role, he was the head of the regional election campaign committee of Daejeon for then-PPP presidential candidate Yoon Suk Yeol.