Four Chungcheong Cities and Provinces Unite Behind Bid to Bring National Institute of Dental Research to Cheonan

[Financial News] The four cities and provinces in the Chungcheong region have joined forces to bring the National Institute of Dental Research to Cheonan and are launching a joint effort.
 Key Chungcheong region figures, including Park Soo-hyun, governor of South Chungcheong Province; Heo Tae-jeong, mayor of Daejeon; Cho Sang-ho, mayor of Sejong City; Shin Yong-han, governor of North Chungcheong Province; and Koo Hyeong-seo, chair of the Chungcheong Metropolitan Union Council, staged a placard performance on the 2nd at the policy forum on enacting the Chungcheong Metropolitan Union Special Act, held at the Kensington Hotel in Seoul. They expressed their strong determination to bring the institute to the region.
 The performance was organized to highlight bringing the National Institute of Dental Research to Cheonan as a key joint task for the entire Chungcheong region at a gathering aimed at establishing a cross-regional cooperation system through the enactment of the Chungcheong Metropolitan Union Special Act. Participants chanted slogans such as "Establish the National Institute of Dental Research! To Cheonan" and "The future of dental science in Korea! From Cheonan," making clear that the Chungcheong region would respond jointly to future government bids and efforts to reflect the project in policy.
 South Chungcheong Province has laid the groundwork for establishing the National Institute of Dental Research in Cheonan by proactively securing a candidate site and conducting commissioned research. Cheonan's strengths include nationwide transportation access through KTX Cheonan–Asan Station, abundant educational and clinical infrastructure such as Dankook University College of Dentistry and Dankook University Dental Hospital, and a strong bio and medical industry base.
 South Chungcheong Province plans to build a cross-regional national dental industry cooperation belt encompassing the entire Chungcheong region by combining the advanced medical and industrial capabilities of Osong and Ochang in North Chungcheong Province, Sejong City's administrative and policy capabilities, and Daejeon's research and development (R&D) strengths.
 Park Soo-hyun, governor of South Chungcheong Province, said, "Greater synergy can be created when the Chungcheong region's strengths in administration, science and technology, medicine, and industry are connected as one." He added, "With all the necessary preparations, including securing a candidate site and conducting commissioned research, already completed, we will pool the Chungcheong region's strength to make the National Institute of Dental Research a new growth engine for dental science in Korea."
 Meanwhile, establishing the National Institute of Dental Research is a project aimed at building a national R&D control tower in response to the rapid growth of the dental medical device and materials industries. Although Korea's dental industry has world-class technological competitiveness, it has been criticized for facing limitations in commercializing technology and expanding its global market share due to the absence of a dedicated research institute. If the institute is established, it is expected to generate economic ripple effects worth several hundred billion won annually and create high-value-added jobs.

[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter