Chungnam University seeks Human CORE, Techno-Biz CORE, and Culture CORE As the core university of the globally- competitive Daedeok R&D innovation cluster, Chungnam National University is poised to play an increasingly important role in this venture ecosystem through CNU (core network university) CONNECT. The University is drawing keen interest by organizing Chungnam University Daedeok R&D Special Zone Business Team with a view of helping the Daedeok R&D Special Zone grow into a leading global innovation cluster via CNU CONNECT activation. On the assumption that the vision of the Daedeok R&D Special Zone aims to nurture Daedeok as a globally-competitive innovation cluster in which "research functions" and "production functions" are combined, university president Hyun S. Yang, Ph.D., told the Korea IT Times that Chungnam National University wants to realize CONNECT through 3-CORES as the foundation of exchanges, cooperation and encounters for promoting technology/information/manpower, while aiming to create an Open Innovation Network. This University's 3-CORES consist of the Human CORE, Techno-Biz CORE, and Culture CORE. First of all, its Human CORE is for university opening and to nurture innovation manpower. To this end, Chungnam University will establish as well as enlarge tailor-made model/internship education courses, nurturing innovative human resources through exchanges of manpower among education, industry and laboratory circles, the president said. Second, the Techno-Biz CORE is designed to support scientific fusion as well as technology commercialization. Yang noted that Chungnam University will help the Daedeok R&D Valley grow by developing an interdisciplinary science fusion network such as a Bio-Informatics cluster as well as a Bio new material cluster. In addition, Chungnam University plans to operate Techno-Biz team for the sake of technology, management and law integration support. In terms of its Culture CORE, Chungnam University aims to form an education/ culture/welfare environment for the community, thereby striving toward operating a global community center for the sake of international culture exchange support. In addition to this CNU CONNECT project, the president says that Chungnam University possesses a number of differentiated features in comparison with other universities: Firstly, Chungnam University lies in an ideal geographical location. To illustrate this point, the president cited the fact that the Daedeok R&D Special Zone is situated only a short distance from the University and high-grade administration institutions such as The Korean Intellectual Property Office and Korea Customs Service. Secondly, Yang explained, "Chungnam University lies at the heart of the historic Baikje cultural circle, meaning that the University is located at the center of a celebrated city." The president added that Chungnam University can serve the nation both as an R&D-centered university as well as a policy-oriented university, explaining that Chungnam University and Gongju University are on the way toward eventually being integrated. In particular, Chungnam University is noteworthy in that the University addresses a number of policy alternatives with a view to contributing to national development in the context of the policy framework of the current Roh administration. According to its manpower fostering strategy, the Daedeok R&D Special Zone will be responsible for providing advanced technology continuously and supporting the nurturing of tailor-made human resources, Yang explained. Moreover, the Daedeok R&D Special Zone will be developed with a view of commercialization of R&D output and the globalization of its R&DB activity. In conclusion, Chungnam's president said that in line with this policy being pursued by the Zone, the University will proactively assist the Daedeok R&D Special Zone to grow as a worldwide super first-rate cluster through CNU CONNCET activation.