To secure the Local Government–University Collaboration-Based Regional Innovation Project (hereafter RIS Project), Jeollabuk-do and Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), among others, have recently taken proactive measures, including strengthening cooperation among participating institutions through a Jeonbuk Regional Collaboration Committee agreement.

Against this backdrop, the Jeonbuk Regional University Presidents' Council (Chair Park Maeng‑su, President of Wonkwang University) and Jeollabuk-do (Governor Song Ha‑jin) took the lead in bringing all institutions in Jeonbuk together to successfully advance the RIS Project. The launch ceremony to secure this project was held on the 17th at 2:00 p.m. at the JBNU International Convention Center.

At the launch ceremony, all regional innovation institutions — including four cities and counties and nine universities in the Jeonbuk region, the Automobile Convergence Technology Institute (Foundation), and the Korea Institute of Energy Research — participated to pool ideas and align efforts for the successful acquisition of the RIS Project.

The launch ceremony opened with an address by Park Maeng‑su, President of Wonkwang University. The event continued with a progress report on RIS promotion by Jeong Yong‑chae, Director of Planning, JBNU, followed by the reading of a resolution and a signing ceremony attended by representatives of participating institutions and members of the National Assembly.

Through the adopted resolution, the representatives of participating institutions expressed their shared understanding of the region's crisis and pledged to establish the most effective platform to identify and implement projects aligned with Jeonbuk's industrial development.

The RIS Project builds a platform for regional innovation through collaboration among local governments, universities, and regional innovation institutions. It promotes tailored talent development needed by the region through university education reform and the technology development demanded by industry. Launched in 2020, the project will receive KRW 244 billion in national funding this year.

To secure the project, on February 28 a Regional Collaboration Committee was launched with Jeollabuk-do Governor Song Ha‑jin and JBNU President Kim Dong‑won serving as co‑chairpersons and with participation from 12 local institutions. Through the launch ceremony, they publicly declared their commitment and broad regional cooperation to win the project.

JBNU President Kim Dong‑won, whose university is the lead institution for the project, emphasized that "universities and the region face a serious survival crisis due to population decline from low birth rates and the region's outdated industrial structure." He stated, "All regional institutions will cooperate to build an innovation platform for the future development of universities and the region, cultivate tailored talent through university education reform, and create a virtuous cycle in which local talent settles in the region through technology development that meets industry needs."

Park Maeng‑su, Chair of the Jeonbuk Regional University Presidents' Council, said, "This launch ceremony is the first step toward securing the RIS Project, which the government is promoting to address issues such as regional extinction caused by concentration in the metropolitan area." He added, "Through the launch ceremony, we again share the importance of this project and ask for generous support and wisdom so that Jeollabuk-do can secure the project this year."

Meanwhile, Song Ha‑jin, Governor of Jeollabuk-do, who attended the event, stated, "Through the regional innovation project, universities and local governments will cooperate to cultivate core talent required by local communities and link talent development to corporate hiring. This will enable young people to settle in the region and is expected to become a new model that drives future new industries and the growth of regional companies."