GWANGJU — The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is redrawing the map of advanced industry in South Korea's Honam region.
GIST said on the 14th that it will head the Honam regional project office for the Ministry of Science and ICT's regionally led research and development program, known as the "four poles, three special zones" initiative, and will begin driving locally led R&D in semiconductors, energy and mobility. The program is expected to help the Honam region move beyond its existing industrial base to become one of the pillars of technology innovation in South Korea.
Semiconductors in particular are seen as the central axis for building a new industrial ecosystem, combining with technology assets where the region has strengths, including artificial intelligence, photonics, power semiconductors and advanced packaging.
To that end, GIST began accepting applications on the 11th of this month from research teams seeking to join the 2026 science and technology innovation support project for the Honam region under the initiative. Applications are open through Oct. 12.
The regionally led R&D approach departs from the previous model, in which the central government set research topics and methods. Instead, regions plan and pursue the R&D projects they need, reflecting their own industrial policies and corporate demand.
Under the Honam program, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City will present regional industrial policy priorities and corporate needs, while GIST will connect universities, research institutes and companies and support the planning and execution of R&D.
The focus areas are semiconductors, energy and mobility.
In semiconductors, the program will pursue AI-based advanced packaging and thermal management technologies, along with AI, photonic and power semiconductor development.
In energy, it will seek to secure virtual transmission line technology, energy storage systems based on sodium-ion batteries, and technologies linking green hydrogen with laser nuclear fusion.
In mobility, it will develop AI-driven autonomous manufacturing, diagnostics and resource recycling for used batteries, and safety technologies based on urban digital twins.
The program is viewed as a turning point in a locally led shift toward advanced industry, with the Honam region extending its capabilities in AI, photonics and renewable energy into semiconductors and mobility.
"We will work with the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City to connect the Honam region's capabilities in AI and photonics, renewable energy and future mobility," said Park Ki-hong, head of the Honam regional project office for the regionally led R&D initiative.
