Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) has partnered with Wanju County (County Mayor Yoo Hee-tae) to strengthen customized talent development linked to the region's future growth engines and industry–university collaboration.

JBNU signed a memorandum of understanding for "Training Regional Talent Linked to Growth Engines" on the 27th at 11:00 a.m. in the University Headquarters' Reception Room. President Yang O-bong and Wanju County Mayor Yoo Hee-tae attended.

The agreement was established to strengthen a win–win cooperation system between the region and the university in line with the Ministry of Education's "Plan for Training Regional Talent Linked to Growth Engines," commonly referred to as the "Create Ten Seoul National Universities" policy, and to lay the groundwork for the two institutions to jointly lead balanced national development.

Through this agreement, the two institutions will jointly pursue regional talent development projects linked to JBNU's strategic industry growth engines, including advanced robotics foundry, green hydrogen systems, agriculture and bio life sciences, artificial intelligence (AI), mobility, and renewable energy.

In particular, they will support collaborative projects between universities located in Wanju County and specialized high schools in related fields such as Physical AI and hydrogen. They will expand AI education within the region and also promote AI convergence research and demonstration projects linked to Wanju County's strategic industries.

Given that Wanju County has an established hydrogen and mobility parts industry and manufacturing base, the two institutions plan to gradually identify cooperative projects closely tied to local industry, such as pilot demonstrations of AI and robotic automation for manufacturing firms and digital transformation training for workers employed in industrial complexes.

Through these efforts, they plan to cultivate practical, job-ready personnel that meet regional industry demand and to establish a virtuous cycle in which educational and research outcomes strengthen regional industrial competitiveness and lead to young people settling in the area.

President Yang O-bong said, "We will closely connect JBNU's educational and research capabilities with Wanju County's industrial strengths to open new growth possibilities for the region," and "We will further expand substantive cooperation with local governments to create a model of balanced national development where the region and the university grow together."

Wanju County Mayor Yoo Hee-tae also responded, "This agreement will lay the foundation for Wanju's future industries and serve as a starting point to provide new growth opportunities for local youth," adding, "We will work closely with JBNU to foster talent and promote industrial innovation that leverage regional characteristics such as AI, hydrogen, and mobility."