Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) has joined forces with a world-leading research institute to attract a national advanced strategic industry bio-specialized complex to Jeollabuk-do.

On the 5th at 4:00 PM at the Jeollabuk-do Provincial Government, JBNU signed a memorandum of understanding with the Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine (Director Hak‑su Choi) of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), affiliated with Harvard Medical School, to establish an organic cooperative framework for the development of a bio-specialized complex and to contribute to the growth and advancement of the bio industry.

The signing ceremony was attended by JBNU, the Jeollabuk-do Provincial Government, Wonkwang University, the Advanced Radiation Research Institute of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, and the Jeonbuk Bio-Convergence Industry Promotion Agency, among others.

Located in Boston, MGH was founded in 1811 as an affiliated hospital of Harvard Medical School. It is the oldest medical institution in the United States and is known for its world-class clinical and research infrastructure.

This agreement is particularly encouraging as it was concluded while JBNU and the Jeollabuk-do Provincial Government are making every effort to attract a national advanced strategic industry bio-specialized complex.

JBNU, together with MGH, will identify and promote joint projects to revitalize the bio-specialized complex. They will pursue international collaborative clinical research centered on medical schools and university hospitals in Jeollabuk-do and cooperative research in customized precision medicine.

In addition, JBNU and its partners will cooperate on talent exchange and development through initiatives such as the Glocal University project and local government–university collaboration–based regional innovation projects. They will also implement exchanges of bio-related technologies and policies to strengthen global-leading technological capabilities.

With this agreement, a project implementation system spanning Boston (Harvard) — Jeonju (JBNU) — Iksan (Wonkwang University) — Jeongeup (Advanced Radiation Research Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) is in place, which is expected to further bolster efforts to secure designation of the bio-specialized complex.

President Yang O‑bong stated, “That JBNU and a world-leading research institute have agreed to cooperate for the development of the bio industry once again demonstrates that JBNU’s research competitiveness is world-class.” He added, “We will fully utilize JBNU’s outstanding researchers and infrastructure to rise as a flagship university leading the attraction of the bio-specialized complex and the development of the industry.”