BUSAN — A marine-focused hub linking industry, academia and research institutes is opening in Busan's Yeongdo district, aiming to connect scattered marine research and development capabilities to corporate technology development and commercialization. The move could mark a turning point for the Dongsam Innovation District, home to marine research bodies including the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) and Korea Maritime and Ocean University, expanding it from a research center into a base for corporate growth.
The Busan Metropolitan Government said on the 14th that it held an opening ceremony for the K-OceanX Marine Science and Technology Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Center in the Dongsam Innovation District in Yeongdo-gu and began full operations. The center is a platform connecting the research, development and business development (R&BD) capabilities of public institutions, universities and research institutes clustered in the marine complex with private companies.
The center was built on a 5,868-square-meter site with a total floor area of 10,385 square meters, spanning one basement level and seven floors above ground. It houses space for 35 companies along with research and development rooms, co-working space, an open lounge, meeting rooms and seminar rooms, allowing companies and research institutes to interact on a continuous basis. Busan Techno Park and KMI will jointly operate the facility.
The core mission is linking research results to corporate technology development and commercialization. The center will broaden contact between resident companies and marine research institutes through joint R&D, technology development, regular exchange and networking, and cooperative project matching. Starting next year, it plans to build advanced infrastructure in stages, including a demonstration center for artificial intelligence transformation (AX) in shipping and ports, to support testing and commercialization by marine AI and data convergence companies.
The center took about 10 years to complete. Because it was built over a long period following initial planning in 2016, the city views it as a key foundation for raising the functions of the Dongsam Innovation District to a higher level. The goal is to create an industrial ecosystem extending from research to demonstration, commercialization and corporate growth, rather than simply providing office space for companies.
The city also plans to tie the center to projects aimed at developing Yeongdo into a marine research and development center. It will pursue a marine-focused innovation city in connection with the Young Blue Belt project and expand cooperation with KIOST, KMI and Korea Maritime and Ocean University. The key task is building a structure that allows companies to use the technology and data held by marine research institutes.
"As Busan Port marks the 150th anniversary of its opening, this is a new starting point for preparing 150 years of future marine innovation," Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said. "We will bring together marine science and technology capabilities and strengthen cooperation among industry, academia, research institutes and government to make this an innovation hub where research results lead to corporate growth, and corporate growth leads to new technologies and jobs."
