Wando County announced on July 3 that it will jointly participate in the International Joint Technology Development Project (EUREKA) in the field of marine bio using algae with the French Roscoff Marine Biological Research Center.
The project aims to foster the marine bio industry specialized in seaweed by developing industrial materials through research on algae functionality.
Major research projects include developing health functional foods and medicines to prevent dementia and improve diseases using extracts and developing functional cosmetics using kelp.
The EUREKA program is an international joint research and development program that provides research funds from its own institutions for tasks that have been approved by member countries that have joined the European R&D platform.
In Korea, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), a project agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, plans to receive a business plan in August and select a business operator at the end of November after the final evaluation. The project will receive research funds of up to 1.5 billion won ($1.2 million) for three years.
In October last year, the county signed a business agreement with the Roscoff Marine Biological Research Center and agreed to cooperate in the joint participation of the international joint technology development project in 2020 and the exchange of research, technology and business officials related to marine bio.
The French Roscoff Marine Biological Research Institute was established in 1872 for the purpose of marine life and marine ecology research and education and is Europe's largest marine bio research institute with 350 research personnel.
In March, a joint research consortium was formed and selected for the joint research direction, which was organized by Wando County, involving Chonnam National University, Chosun University and Roscoff Marine Biological Research Center.
With the aim of selecting three tasks and securing 4.5 billion won ($3.7 million) in research funds, the joint research team plans to complete a detailed business plan next month based on the division of roles by each institution.
"The marine bio industry is a high value-added industry with a high potential for future growth due to the aging population and rising health demand in the post-COVID-19 era," said Wando County Gov. Shin Woo-chul. "We will actively foster the marine bio industry specialized in algae as a new industry for the future of Wando."
kslee@koreaittimes.com
