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Busan Metropolitan City Holds 7th Task Force Meeting to Diversify Efforts to Attract the National Institute of Dental Research

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that it will hold the 7th Task Force (TF) Meeting today (June 16) at 4:00 p.m., organized by the Busan Institute of Science and Technology Promotion (BISTEP), to proactively respond to the upcoming public competition for the establishment of the National Institute of Dental Research.

As the Ministry of Health and Welfare is expected to present specific competition procedures and implementation plans for the establishment of the National Institute of Dental Research this year, the city plans to formulate a metropolitan-level attraction strategy based on input from experts across Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do and strengthen its response framework for the competition.

In particular, the seventh meeting will focus on exploring cooperation measures across the southeastern region based on a super-regional industry-academia-research-hospital network and establishing a joint response strategy for attracting the National Institute of Dental Research.

To this end, in connection with the city’s “2026 Dental Industry Promotion and Support Plan,” participants will share collaborative projects in areas such as dental innovation resources, research and development, infrastructure development, corporate support, and workforce training among specialized institutions throughout the southeastern region. They will also discuss ways to expand promotional activities to enhance competitiveness in the public competition.

On June 13, the city participated in the Oral Health Day experiential event held at Busan Citizens Park and carried out a social media promotional campaign supporting the attraction of the National Institute of Dental Research to Busan.

In cooperation with related organizations including the Busan Dental Association and the Dental Hygienists Association, the city conducted social media posting events and a public signature campaign involving more than 1,000 citizens, including students from eight local colleges and universities such as Daedong College’s Department of Dental Hygiene. These efforts aimed to increase interest among younger generations and expand public support for bringing the National Institute of Dental Research to Busan.

Busan is recognized as a leading K-Dental city, featuring a comprehensive dental industry ecosystem that organically connects research, clinical practice, industry, and exports, along with globally competitive logistics and MICE infrastructure.

As the birthplace of Korea’s first domestically developed dental implant, Busan is home to 11 dental education institutions. The southeastern region encompassing Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do possesses the nation’s largest dental industry infrastructure outside the Seoul metropolitan area, providing an optimal environment for both research and clinical practice.

The region accounts for 63.7 percent of the nation’s dental materials production and 36.3 percent of dental materials exports as of 2024. In addition, Busan welcomed more than 75,000 international medical tourists last year, ranking first among non-capital regions for the second consecutive year. Through events such as the Busan Dental Exhibition and Scientific Congress (BDEX), the city has firmly established itself as a global hub for K-Dental exchange and cooperation.

Myeongji New Town in Gangseo-gu, a candidate site for the National Institute of Dental Research, offers excellent residential conditions and advanced medical and bio infrastructure, including the Eco Delta City Smart Healthcare Cluster. Combined with outstanding transportation and logistics accessibility through Gimhae International Airport, Gadeokdo New Airport, and Busan New Port, the area is considered an ideal location for the institute.

Kim Dong-hyun, Director General of the Future Technology Strategy Bureau, stated, “By attracting the National Institute of Dental Research, a national research institute in the bio sector, we will establish a foundation for cooperation among industry, academia, research institutes, and hospitals while invigorating research and development. Through fostering a high-value-added dental industry and creating quality jobs, we will generate a new growth engine for the regional economy.”