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Full-Scale Launch of Ultra-Regional Talent Development under the “ANCHOR” Strategy: Southeast Region Working-Level Meeting on Regional Growth Talent Development Held

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will hold the Southeast Region Working-Level Meeting on Regional Growth Talent Development today (17th) at 1:00 p.m. at the Ramada Encore Busan Station Hotel to proactively respond to the Ministry of Education’s reorganization plan for the Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE), namely the Regional Growth Talent Development System (ANCHOR), and to concretize joint cooperative tasks among Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do.

“ANCHOR” is a newly reorganized and integrated model by the Ministry of Education that restructures the existing Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE). It embodies the concept of anchoring in the region, supporting the establishment of a virtuous cycle in which talent progresses from university education to employment and ultimately to long-term settlement within the region.

This meeting has been organized to solidify the Southeast region’s position as a southern innovation hub in line with the government’s ultra-regional restructuring guidelines.

Working-level officials from relevant departments and dedicated institutions of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do will attend the meeting to share key issues faced by each local government and establish a concrete cooperative framework for jointly carrying out ultra-regional tasks.

The three cities and provinces plan to discuss the division of roles and budget matching structures in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s restructuring guidelines and concentrate administrative efforts on deriving a unified response plan for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do for upcoming government-funded projects scheduled for the second half of the year.

The three cities and provinces have already established a close cooperative system at the ultra-regional level that transcends administrative boundaries, going beyond the achievements of individual local governments.

Following the signing of the Southeast Region Ultra-Regional RISE Center Cooperation Agreement last December, the three cities and provinces have institutionalized ongoing working-level consultations to consolidate previously fragmented university support capacities into a unified framework. This has become a foundation for creating a joint innovation ecosystem that aligns the core strategic industries of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do with university curricula at the ultra-regional level, moving beyond simple budget allocation.

Based on these achievements, the meeting will focus on discussing strategic response measures for the Ministry of Education’s KRW 200 billion ultra-regional public project aimed at building a shared higher education ecosystem that removes barriers between universities.

In connection with the “5 Mega-Sectors, 3 Special Zones” shared university initiative, which seeks to establish ten Seoul National University-level institutions, a shared university model led by regional flagship national universities will be promoted. Through resource sharing and role division among national and private universities within the region, the plan is to avoid excessive competition and establish a Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam joint campus. The project budget is KRW 120 billion in national funding.

For talent development linked to strategic industries, key growth engines of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do—such as future mobility, aerospace, shipbuilding and maritime industries, hydrogen, and defense—will be designated, and large-scale consortia integrating companies, universities, and research institutes will be formed to jointly respond to Ministry of Education talent development initiatives. The project budget is KRW 80 billion in national funding.

To establish ultra-regional governance, an ultra-regional anchor center and committee will be newly created to manage “5 Mega-Sectors, 3 Special Zones” projects. Through the establishment of a jointly funded inter-municipal institution in the future, the plan is to secure strong implementation capacity by jointly carrying out the entire process from policy planning to identifying detailed tasks.

Busan Metropolitan City expects that this working-level meeting will help complete a practical roadmap for the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam ultra-regional economic zone, where education, industry, and settlement are interconnected.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “We will not miss the golden time for ultra-regional cooperation in which universities and industries can grow together,” adding, “By building a flexible cooperation model that organically connects and expands each region’s strengths as one team, we will create a leading example of balanced national development.”