Wonju gets defense drone cluster off the ground...18 military, government, industry, academic and research institutions join forces

【The Financial News, Wonju = Kim Gi-seop】With 18 institutions joining forces in Wonju, which has a military unit dedicated to field demonstrations of small drones and counter-drone systems as well as testing and evaluation facilities, work to establish a defense drone cluster has taken its first step.
According to Wonju City on the 7th, a memorandum of understanding to establish the Wonju Defense Drone Cluster and the launch ceremony for the Wonju Defense Drone Industry Council were held that day in a conference room on the 10th floor of City Hall. The agreement was joined by 18 institutions from the military, government, industry, academia and research, including Wonju City, the 36th Infantry Division and the 1st Logistics Support Command. They agreed to work together to systematically develop the defense drone industry.
The participating institutions will jointly draw up the basic vision and implementation strategy for the Wonju Defense Drone Cluster. They will also work together on technology development, testing and evaluation, field demonstrations, and commercialization in the defense drone and defense industries. They agreed to train core technical talent and connect them with jobs, identify and foster defense-related small and venture businesses, and expand exchanges and cooperation networks among institutions.
The Wonju Defense Drone Industry Council, launched that day, will bring together the expertise, technology and infrastructure of each institution to flesh out a Wonju-specific defense drone model and key projects, and identify and pursue practical cooperative projects. The Gangwon-Wonju Defense Industry Association was founded under private-sector leadership on September 30; with the military, government, academia and research institutions now pooling their capabilities as well, the foundation for cooperation is seen as having grown stronger.
Wonju already has the foundations to develop its defense drone industry. It has built up experience through the Drone Special Liberalization Zone and the drone demonstration city program, and it also operates the Future Aviation Technology Center, which has testing and evaluation capabilities. The 36th Infantry Division is the first unit designated by the Ministry of National Defense last year to conduct demonstrations in the fields of small drones and counter-drone systems.
The city plans to create an industrial ecosystem spanning technology development, military demonstrations, testing and evaluation, and commercialization. Through education and training, as well as the development and attraction of businesses, it aims to bring technology, companies and talent to Wonju. It also plans to work closely with Gangwon Province to ensure that Wonju's specialized defense drone project is included in the competitive Defense Industry Innovation Cluster program, which Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province is preparing, worth 50 billion won over five years.
“The resources needed to develop the defense drone industry are already here in Wonju: the 36th Division's demonstration capabilities, the Future Aviation Technology Center, and the private association launched last month,” Wonju Mayor Gu Ja-yeol said. “Together, the 18 institutions will pave the way from technology development to commercialization so that drones become one of Wonju's signature industries, safeguarding national security and creating new companies and jobs.”

[email protected] Kim Gi-seop Reporter