Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) has been selected as the representative Entrepreneurship-Centered University for the Honam region.

"The Entrepreneurship-Centered University Project" is a new program launched this year by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. As a follow-up measure to policies for revitalizing youth entrepreneurship, the program designates approximately six universities nationwide—one per region—to foster universities as incubators of K-unicorn companies. It provides a package (pre-startup, early-startup, growth) program and supports a total of approximately KRW 40 billion in funding over five years.

With this selection, JBNU has been chosen for entrepreneurship support programs for seven consecutive years since being named a Leading University for Entrepreneurship in 2015, further cementing its reputation as a startup training academy.

In particular, as the only regional university, JBNU operates four entrepreneurship-related programs: a Laboratory-Specialized Leading University for Entrepreneurship (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and ICT), the Pre-Startup Package and Early-Startup Package (Ministry of SMEs and Startups), and the Innopolis Campus (Ministry of Science and ICT). It has established an end-to-end, comprehensive startup support system, including building a specialist incubation base for the regional Startup Incubation Center (Ministry of SMEs and Startups).

With this selection, JBNU will provide stage-specific, specialized support to entrepreneurs across the Honam region—from pre-startup founders to early-stage and growth-stage companies—by combining its existing startup support infrastructure with active support and cooperation from Jeollabuk-do and Jeonju City. Support will include commercialization funding, marketing to expand sales channels, and investment for advanced company growth.

Through this, it is expected to greatly benefit pre-startup and early-stage founders and startup companies by promoting stable youth-led startups and outstanding entrepreneurial companies.

Kwon Dae-gyu, Director of the Startup Support Group, said, "By establishing a stage-specific, tailored startup support system, we will promote youth entrepreneurship and the growth of outstanding regional companies, and produce star companies through convergence technology startups." He added, "Going forward, the JBNU Startup Support Group will continue to lead entrepreneurship promotion as the hub of startup activity in the Honam region."