Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) will continue government-supported projects to train research and development (R&D) personnel for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and step up efforts to strengthen regional industrial competitiveness.

JBNU announced on the 13th that the Research Personnel Innovation Center under the Industry–University Cooperation Focused Project Group has been selected as a continuing support project for the "2026 On-site Customized Training Support Project for SME Research Personnel" promoted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

The Research Personnel Innovation Center (Director: Professor Guk Gyeong-su) formed a consortium with the Jeonbuk Regional Industry Promotion Agency and has continuously supported the training and supply of research personnel to enhance the R&D competitiveness of local SMEs since 2024.

In particular, through a demand-driven workforce matching system based on regional industry needs, it has connected a total of 221 job seekers with local SMEs over the past two years, contributing to tangible job creation and the strengthening of corporate technological capabilities.

It has also operated an AI training program specialized for research personnel and established a field-centered, tailored support system that provides wage subsidies and R&D funding. Through these measures, it has reduced the outflow of local research personnel to the Seoul metropolitan area and improved regional retention rates.

The "2026 On-site Customized Training Support Project for SME Research Personnel" to be implemented this year aims to train approximately 120 research personnel and, through matching with SMEs, support research personnel to undertake internships at companies for up to four months.

Participating research personnel will directly identify and carry out R&D projects to address companies' technical challenges. Among these, 40 projects will each receive 10 million won in R&D funding.

Notably, six outstanding projects will be linked to the support program for hiring early-career and highly experienced research personnel. If companies hire these research personnel, up to 50% of wages will be subsidized for a maximum of three years, which is expected to provide practical assistance for SMEs in securing stable research staff and strengthening technological competitiveness.

Director Guk Gyeong-su said, "Businesspeople we met in the field emphasize that preventing the outflow of research personnel and securing new technologies is a matter of corporate survival. The Research Personnel Innovation Center will further sophisticate the comprehensive support platform for SMEs and do its utmost to create a virtuous-cycle ecosystem in which talent remains in the region and companies advance through technological innovation."