Chungnam Named Top Performer for Second Straight Year in ANCHOR Evaluation; Secures Nation’s Largest Incentive of 59.6 Billion Won

[Financial News, Hongseong | Kim Won-jun] South Chungcheong Province has been named the top local government for the second consecutive year in the Ministry of Education’s evaluation of the Regional Growth Talent Development System (ANCHOR), securing 59.6 billion won in incentives—the largest amount nationwide. ANCHOR is the new name for the former Regional Innovation-Centered University Support System (RISE). Including the Ministry of Education’s base funding of 69.9 billion won, total national funding secured this year comes to 129.5 billion won.
 Lee Jong-ik, head of South Chungcheong Province’s Youth and Women Bureau, held a press briefing at the provincial government press center on the 21st and announced the results of the first year of implementation and plans for using the incentives.
 After receiving the top grade in last year’s project plan evaluation, South Chungcheong Province also received the highest grade (S) in this year’s annual review. It is the only province-level local government nationwide to receive the top rating for two consecutive years.
 This evaluation marks the first result under the “performance verification” system introduced by the Ministry of Education as it reorganized RISE into ANCHOR. The Ministry allocated about 400 billion won this year for performance-based incentives, evaluated all 17 cities and provinces, and distributed funding at different levels according to grade. Key areas of review included whether local governments had communicated sufficiently with universities, avoided so-called “divvying up the budget,” and incorporated students’ perspectives.
 There were three major examples of outstanding performance. The “Chungnam-style contract program” is a model in which universities and companies work together from student selection through curriculum design, linking students with jobs at local companies as soon as they enroll. A total of 563 students enrolled at 16 universities in the province, with 292 companies participating. For agreement-based projects in which cities and counties raise local issues and universities seek solutions, 14 cities and counties connected 4.2 billion won in local funding to 32 projects, including revitalizing the university district in Anseo-dong, Cheonan. Chungnam is the only province among the country’s cities and provinces to have partnered with basic-level local governments. The innovation ecosystem project for new growth industries generated 1.713 billion won in technology transfers and helped launch 100 technology startups.
 South Chungcheong Province plans to reinvest the 59.6 billion won in incentives in expanding key programs such as contract programs, realizing “AI Capital Chungnam,” developing future talent, and launching new competitive funding calls for university specialization. The plans will be finalized after review by the ANCHOR Committee next month, taking into account views expressed at a meeting with the presidents of the province’s 25 universities. The province will also strengthen performance management, including allocating different amounts of funding to universities based on their results.
 Chungnam, Busan and Gwangju were reportedly the three metropolitan local governments to receive an S grade in this review. 
 Lee said, “The top rating for two consecutive years is an achievement made together by universities, cities and counties, businesses and provincial residents,” adding, “We will build a university support system that enables young people to study, work and settle in Chungnam.”
 Meanwhile, South Chungcheong Province was also selected last month for the “Super-Regional Growth Engine Talent Development Project” and will receive 54 billion won in national funding over four years. With Dankook University as the lead institution, universities and companies in Chungnam, Gyeonggi Province and Daegu will train 2,600 convergence talent in AI-based advanced biomanufacturing.

[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter