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Busan Metropolitan City Launches Full-Scale Effort to Attract Pusan National University’s National Research Laboratory (NRL 2.0)

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) will hold the “Strategy Meeting to Support the Attraction of the National Research Laboratory (NRL 2.0)” today (14th) at 4:00 p.m. in the 7th-floor conference room of City Hall, launching a full-scale response to secure the final selection of the “Cryogenic Research Institute.”

This meeting follows the August 6 announcement that Pusan National University’s “Cryogenic Research Institute” passed the preliminary evaluation for the “National Research Laboratory (NRL 2.0) Public Contest Project,” jointly promoted by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT. It aims to explore cooperation measures among the city, the university, and related organizations, and to develop all-round support strategies in preparation for the main evaluation in September.

In May, the city formed a dedicated “National Research Laboratory Attraction Support Task Force (TF),” headed by the Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs, to establish a city-level support system. The TF has worked intensively on consolidating commitment to the attraction effort, analyzing trends in other cities and provinces, securing strategic consulting from specialized institutions, and pledging matching city funding.

This meeting, the first kick-off session for securing the final selection of the Cryogenic Research Institute as a National Research Laboratory, will focus on sharing the research project with attendees, and comprehensively discussing specific support measures and attraction strategies with relevant departments and related organizations.

The meeting will be presided over by Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs Lee Jun-seung, head of the TF, and will be attended by over 20 participants, including heads of key city departments related to the research project, university research teams, and experts from related institutions.

The agenda includes: a progress report on the National Research Laboratory public contest project, an explanation of the “Cryogenic Research Institute” research project, a strategic report on linked projects, and an open discussion on cooperation measures.

Overview of the Meeting

• ●Date/Time & Venue: August 14, 2025 (Thu) 16:00 / 7th-floor conference room, City Hall

• ●Participants: Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs (chair), relevant bureau and department heads (8 departments), representatives from the university and related organizations

• ●Main content: Discussion on full-scale response measures for attracting the National Research Laboratory (“Cryogenic Research Institute”)

The Cryogenic Research Institute aims to develop advanced materials applicable in extreme and cryogenic environments, complete next-generation energy storage technologies, and advance cutting-edge biomedical technologies such as regenerative medicine.

Through this, the institute seeks to grow into a world-class interdisciplinary research institution covering a wide range of fields from basic science to engineering and biomedical science. It will strengthen cooperation with global research networks, with the ultimate vision of enhancing national science and technology competitiveness and leading industrial innovation.

In particular, the development of cryogenic energy technologies is a core task for the commercialization of future port-based energy, closely linked to national priorities such as pioneering the Northern Sea Route, and connected to shipping, ports, logistics, and decarbonized energy. This is expected to drive the future growth of Busan as a global maritime hub city. Moreover, establishing this national-level research hub in Busan is anticipated to make a significant contribution to balanced national development.

Starting with today’s meeting, Busan Metropolitan City plans to continue formulating differentiated strategies and diverse cooperation measures, strengthening the rationale for attraction, and providing full-scale support to ensure the institute’s final selection in the main evaluation.

Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs Lee Jun-seung emphasized, “The ‘Cryogenic Research Institute’ will be a strategic research hub for the Northern Sea Route era and for Busan’s leap forward as a maritime, energy, and logistics center,” adding, “We will pool regional capabilities to make every effort to attract the National Research Laboratory.”

Meanwhile, the final selection for the “National Research Laboratory (NRL 2.0) Public Contest Project” will be made in September after the main evaluation and deliberation by the “Project Steering Committee.”