Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) (President Yang O‑bong) held its first joint academic forum with the Korea Food Research Institute (Director Baek Hyung‑hee) on the afternoon of the 14th and strengthened the university–research institute network.

JBNU is exploring the establishment of an "Innovation‑Convergence Joint Campus" between the university and research institutes as one of the initiatives under the Glocal University 30 project. Through this, it will undertake collaborative research in regionally specialized fields to secure new growth engines for the local industry. This forum marks the first step of that effort.

Since signing an agreement in May last year to establish the Innovation‑Convergence Joint Campus and promote university–research institute cooperation and collaborative research, JBNU and the Korea Food Research Institute have launched efforts through this forum to build a leading model of academic–research cooperation.

At the forum, each institution introduced itself and presented key items of the Glocal University 30 project. Three collaborative research teams between JBNU and the Korea Food Research Institute presented innovation‑convergence projects. O Taek‑rim, Director of the Future Industry Bureau of Jeonbuk Special Self‑Governing Province, delivered the keynote lecture on "Scope of the Life Industry in Jeonbuk Special Self‑Governing Province and Strategies for Industry Promotion."

In the Glocal University innovation‑convergence project presentations between JBNU and the Korea Food Research Institute, Professor Im Su‑man of the Graduate School of Flexible Pinted Electronics at JBNU presented the project "Development of an On‑Site Detection Sensor to Prevent Health Problems Caused by Excess Quercetin in Fruits and Vegetables." Researcher Choi Young‑min of the Korea Food Research Institute presented "Development of Image‑Transformation‑Based Deep Learning Technology for Raw Food Data to Promote the Dissemination of FoodTech Technologies." Researcher Lee Sang‑hee presented "Analysis of the Effects of BCAA (branched‑chain amino acids) on Muscle Atrophy‑Related mRNA Expression and a Study on the Improvement Effects on Sarcopenia Caused by Osteoporosis for the Development of Health Functional Foods to Mitigate Sarcopenia in Older Adults."

Starting with this forum, JBNU plans, in line with the Glocal University 30 implementation goals, to expand joint convergence research with key regional research organizations—beginning with collaborative research with the Korea Food Research Institute—to include Jeonbuk Technopark, the Jeonbuk Research Institute, the Safety Evaluation Research Institute, the Rural Development Administration, and others.

As a long‑term goal, the university aims to revitalize the regional economy of Jeonbuk Special Self‑Governing Province through commercialization of collaborative research outcomes and technology transfer to local companies, to cultivate industry‑demanded talent, create quality jobs, and improve living conditions, thereby creating a virtuous cycle and building a regional innovation ecosystem.

President Yang O‑bong said, "This forum is a meaningful occasion where the university and key regional research institutions share the importance of convergent collaborative research and mark the first step in the project to establish the Innovation‑Convergence Joint Campus, which is being pursued to secure growth engines for local industry." He added, "Through close cooperation between the university and research institutes, we will invigorate regional industry and carry out this project successfully to provide an opportunity for our region to take off anew, so that all local residents can enjoy a happy life."