This year, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology's Leaders in INdustry-University Cooperation (hereinafter the 'LINC' program), promoted as a priority to achieve the joint growth of universities and regional industry, selected Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), which secured the largest amount of project funding nationwide, and JBNU has begun efforts to implement the project successfully.

JBNU held an opening ceremony for the LINC Project Group at 11:30 a.m. on July 5 in Engineering Building No. 8, College of Engineering, and officially launched programs to train outstanding talent and support technological innovation to establish a leading model of industry–university collaboration.

The ceremony was attended by President Seo Geoseok and other university executives, Project Director Seol Kyung-won, officials from Jeollabuk-do and Jeonju City and other local governments, and about 100 representatives from related companies, research institutes, and affiliated organizations, who celebrated the inauguration of the JBNU LINC Project Group.

The newly established LINC Project Group received national government funding of KRW 4.27 billion this year and plans to carry out a project of approximately KRW 4.8 billion including local government support and incentives. The total project scale is KRW 25 billion over five years.

The LINC Project Group selected renewable energy as its specialization, reflecting the core field of its predecessor, the New and Renewable Energy Industry Talent Development Project. It will focus on cultivating professionals in related areas.

To this end, the Project Group has established a one-stop company support center and is implementing programs such as the 'Company Exploration Tour,' which helps students visit aspirational companies to enhance their understanding of industry.

In addition, the group plans to introduce a 'Renewable Energy Education Accreditation System,' consisting of curricular and extracurricular programs in photovoltaics and wind power, and will concentrate on workforce development and company support.

President Seo Geoseok said, 'Through the LINC program, JBNU will specialize in and intensively nurture the renewable energy sector and concentrate our capabilities to make Jeollabuk-do a mecca for renewable energy. We will spare no effort or support to ensure that the LINC program contributes to the development of the university and the local community and, further, to the advancement of the Republic of Korea.'