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Busan Metropolitan City Holds Opening Ceremony for Marine Science and Technology Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Center (K-OceanX)

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Busan Metropolitan City announced that it will hold the opening ceremony for the Marine Science and Technology Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Center K-OceanX, hereinafter referred to as the center, today, September 14, at 4:30 p.m. in the Dongsam Innovation District in Yeongdo-gu, marking the start of its full-scale operations.

Approximately 100 people are expected to attend the opening ceremony, including Mayor Chun Jae-soo; Kang Moo-gil, Chairperson of the Busan Metropolitan Council; Seo Jeong-ho, head of the Marine Policy Office at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries; Yang Jae-saeng, Chairman of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Choi Jae-won, President of Pusan National University; heads of organizations in the marine cluster; and representatives of maritime and fisheries-related organizations, universities, research institutes, and tenant companies.

The event will begin with the unveiling of the center’s signboard, followed by introductions of distinguished guests, a progress report, welcoming remarks, a special performance, a tour of the facilities, and a discussion with tenant companies.

The Marine Science and Technology Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Center K-OceanX is a maritime-specialized industry-academia-research cooperation platform that connects companies with the marine R&BD capabilities of public institutions, universities, research institutes, and other organizations concentrated in the marine cluster of the Dongsam Innovation District.

The name “K-OceanX” combines “K,” representing the Republic of Korea, “Ocean,” referring to the sea, and “X,” symbolizing innovation and major transformation in the maritime industry. The name conveys the center’s role as a platform for innovation and growth that will help shape the future of Korea’s maritime industry.

The center was built on a 5,868-square-meter site with a total floor area of 10,385 square meters and consists of one basement level and seven above-ground floors.

In addition to spaces for tenant companies, the center provides a variety of facilities where companies and research institutions can interact and collaborate, including industry-academia-research collaboration spaces, research and development laboratories, shared workspaces, coworking spaces, open lounges, meeting rooms, and seminar rooms.

Beginning in 2027, advanced infrastructure, including a Marine and Port Artificial Intelligence Transformation (AX) Demonstration Center, will be established in phases within the center to support technology development and commercialization by companies in the maritime artificial intelligence convergence sector.

The center will also operate a range of development programs to support the stable settlement and growth of tenant companies.

It plans to strengthen cooperation between tenant companies and maritime-related organizations through joint research and development, technology development, regular networking events, network building, and support for connections to collaborative projects.

The center will be jointly operated under contract by Busan Techno Park and the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI).

First planned in 2016, the center was developed over approximately 10 years. It is significant as Korea’s first innovation and growth hub for industry-academia-research cooperation in the maritime and fisheries sector based on artificial intelligence and data, connecting Busan’s marine science and technology capabilities with companies while fostering maritime AI- and data-driven industries.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to use the center as a focal point for strengthening connections between marine research and development capabilities and companies in the Dongsam Innovation District and for fostering maritime AI- and data-driven industries.

In connection with the Young Blue Belt project, the city will pursue the development of a maritime-specialized innovation city and strengthen cooperation with Korea Maritime & Ocean University, the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), and other organizations to develop Yeongdo into a global hub for marine research and development.

In addition, centered on K-OceanX, the city will support the growth of companies in maritime AI- and data-driven industries and build a virtuous ecosystem in which research achievements lead to technology demonstration, commercialization, and corporate growth.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “This year is especially meaningful as it marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of Busan Port and serves as a new starting point for preparing for the next 150 years of maritime innovation. It is all the more significant that K-OceanX is opening its doors at this important juncture.”

He added, “We will bring together Busan’s marine science and technology capabilities and strengthen cooperation among industry, academia, research institutions, and government so that research achievements lead to corporate growth, and corporate growth in turn generates new technologies and jobs. We will develop K-OceanX into a hub for this cycle of innovation.”