Suwon to Pursue 'R&D Science Park Development Project' with Sungkyunkwan University

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special City will push forward with the 'Suwon R&D Science Park' development project together with Sungkyunkwan University.

The city and Sungkyunkwan University signed a business agreement on the 29th at the City Hall Situation Room for the successful promotion of the Suwon R&D Science Park development project, and pledged to cooperate and provide support for smooth project implementation and the attraction of excellent companies and research institutions.

Sungkyunkwan University will establish a research and development cluster based on its excellent research capabilities and industry-academia collaboration competencies, and activate the science park by linking superior talent pools.

Suwon City will actively support the realization of Sungkyunkwan University's research and development cluster establishment.

The signing ceremony was attended by Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, Second Vice Mayor Hwang In-guk, Sungkyunkwan University President Yu Ji-beom, Executive Vice President Choi Jae-bung, and Suwon City Council Urban Environment Committee Chair Jo Mi-ok.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "Today's agreement will be the first step in opening a new era for Suwon," and added, "Based on collaboration with Sungkyunkwan University, we will establish the Suwon R&D Science Park and open a new future for Suwon."

President Yu Ji-beom stated, "Stanford University exists in the United States, which created Silicon Valley, and I believe that Sungkyunkwan University can sufficiently play a role similar to Stanford University when establishing the R&D Science Park," and added, "Sungkyunkwan University will faithfully fulfill its assigned role so that the best R&D Science Park can be established."

Following the signing ceremony, an explanatory meeting on the 'Suwon R&D Science Park development project' was held in the City Hall Conference Room for residents of Yulcheon-dong and Ipbuk-dong. Mayor Lee Jae-jun explained the project implementation status to the residents.

The Suwon R&D Science Park is planned to be established on a 352,600 square-meter site in the area around 484 Ipbuk-dong, Gwonseon-gu. Sungkyunkwan University owns 87% of the site.

The Suwon R&D Science Park project took its first step when Sungkyunkwan University proposed the project to Gyeonggi Province in 2011. After establishing a project implementation plan in 2013 and announcing the project plan in 2014, the project gained momentum in 2016 when an application was made to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for urban management plan decision (amendment) for lifting the development restriction zone. However, it faced a crisis of being suspended due to a prosecution investigation (no charges) into allegations of suspicious land dealings and an Office of the Inspector General audit (dismissed).

In 2021, a project application was resubmitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, but the ministry responded by saying, "Please fulfill administrative procedures again." After the launch of the eighth popularly-elected administration, the city continued discussions with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Sungkyunkwan University, and Gyeonggi Province for project resumption.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport responded, "If you fulfill the conditions (agreement with Sungkyunkwan University), we will proceed with administrative procedures," and Suwon City achieved the result of signing a business agreement on this day after continued discussions with Sungkyunkwan University.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "The Suwon R&D Science Park will be filled with cutting-edge scientific research institutes in the semiconductor, energy, and biotech sectors," and added, "Using the R&D Science Park as a springboard, we will open the era of Western Suwon, and Suwon City will make a leap forward as an advanced scientific research city."

The city plans to apply to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for lifting the development restriction zone and complete the designation of the R&D Science Park site and lifting of the development restriction zone by October 2024. The city aims to complete the establishment of urban development district designation and development plans by July 2025, finish approval of implementation plans by December 2025, and begin construction in January 2026.