Incheon National University Successfully Holds Symposium of the Marine and Fisheries Industry Research Institute

Industry, academia, research institutes, and government agencies, including Incheon Metropolitan City, Incheon Port Authority, KMI, and Incheon Technopark, gather to accelerate the establishment of the “West Coast Marine Belt”

Incheon National University announced that, following the signboard unveiling ceremony for the Marine and Fisheries Industry Research Institute on Monday, May 11, it successfully held a symposium commemorating the institute’s launch on Thursday, May 14.

The symposium focused on topics related to marine industries along the West Coast, including technology, culture, logistics, and related research activities. The event also provided an opportunity for participants from various organizations to exchange ideas and discuss future areas of cooperation.

About 100 participants attended the symposium, including officials from Incheon Metropolitan City’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Bureau and Marine and Aviation Bureau, Incheon Port Authority, the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Incheon Technopark, and experts in marine and fisheries fields.

In his welcoming remarks, President In-jae Lee said, “With the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, there is an urgent need for a hub that can independently drive marine industries in the West Coast region.” He added, “As Incheon’s only flagship national university, Incheon National University will faithfully serve as a key partner in industry-academia-research-government cooperation.”

In Part 1 of the symposium, Na Young-hwan Choi, Director of the Strategic Planning Office at the Korea Maritime Institute, delivered a keynote lecture titled “Current Status of KMI Research and Directions for Cooperation with the Marine and Fisheries Industry Research Institute.”

In Part 2, presentations were delivered in four areas: “Marine Bio” by Woon-ki Hwang, Director of the Tidal Flat Research Center at the National Institute of Fisheries Science; “Marine Logistics” by Professor Sang-hwa Song of Incheon National University, Director of the Smart Marine Logistics Center; “Marine Culture and Regional Settlement” by Professor Ki-young Kwon of Incheon National University, Director of the Community Cooperation Center; and “Marine Architecture” by Hye-ri Park, CEO of Bakeri Urban Architecture Office. In Part 3, participants discussed future directions for the development of marine and fisheries industries along the West Coast.

The Marine and Fisheries Industry Research Institute at Incheon National University aims to foster “metropolitan-area marine new industries” by differentiating itself from the traditional shipbuilding and shipping-centered industries of the Busan and Gyeongnam region. The institute will build on Incheon’s airport and port logistics infrastructure, the metropolitan area’s population base of 26 million, and advanced research capabilities in AI, robotics, and biotechnology.

The institute plans to operate specialized centers, including the Marine Bio Research Center, Marine Robot Demonstration Center, Smart Marine Logistics Center, Marine Leisure and Tourism Center, West Sea Culture and Peace Center, Community Cooperation Center, Advanced Aquaculture and Fishing Village Support Center, and Marine AI Data Research Center.

In particular, the institute will reexamine the blue carbon value of the West Sea tidal flats, one of the world’s five major tidal flats with significant economic value. It will also work to improve living conditions in Incheon’s island areas and develop models to attract young people.

With the launch of the institute, Incheon National University plans to establish the “West Coast Marine Belt” in cooperation with regional universities along the West Coast. It also aims to expand international cooperation with major universities in the Yellow Sea region, including China and Taiwan, and grow into a “Yellow Sea Knowledge Network Hub.”

Gyu-won Kim, Director of the Marine and Fisheries Industry Research Institute and Head of the RISE Project Group at Incheon National University, said, “The launch of this institute marks the starting point for Incheon National University to move beyond the role of a research institute and establish itself as a hub university leading marine governance along the West Coast.”

He added, “We will focus our efforts on developing new marine industries and governance not only in Incheon but also across the West Coast, while cultivating practical convergence talent needed by regional industries in line with the university’s educational goal of fostering communicative talent who challenge creative innovation.”