| Attracting support centers and science museums, securing technology transaction networks… Expected results in building corporate development and growth engines
“Let’s row when the tide comes in” Support continues to be given to the cutting-edge medical device sector, which is a key player in K-quarantine and a future growth engine for the country. In particular, investment and activities are actively taking place in regional clusters that are moving toward specializing in medical devices, drawing attention.
First, Busan City has begun construction of the ‘Next-Generation Medical Device Support Center (tentative name)’ to research and develop cutting-edge medical devices that assist the physical functions of the elderly and the disabled in preparation for a super-aging society.
The Next Generation Medical Device Support Center is a 1,622㎡ site in Dadae-1-dong, Saha-gu with a total floor area of 3,894㎡, 4 floors above ground and 1 floor underground. It completed the detailed design service for construction in March. It is a facility that was selected for the 2018 regional industry hub project by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and is scheduled to be completed in November 2021.
Acting Busan Mayor Byun Sung-wan said, “Once the Next Generation Medical Device Support Center is built, we will link it with the life care industry, one of Busan’s seven strategic industries,” and “We expect that through support for research and development of medical devices and senior-friendly products, as well as commercialization, we will accumulate medical device technology, dominate the market, and establish a hub infrastructure.” In
addition, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, which is considered a mecca for medical device manufacturing, recently attracted the National Science Museum, the 6th in Korea and the first in the province. It is evaluated that the foundation has been laid for growth into a life, health, and medical city representing the Republic of Korea centered on digital healthcare education.
The Life and Medical Science Museum, which will be built on a 42,600㎡ site within 335,605㎡ of Camp Long in Taejang-dong with a total investment of KRW 40.5 billion, including KRW 24.5 billion in national funds, will be built by 2023 on a site with one basement floor and two above-ground floors with a total floor area of 6,500㎡. The promotional experience center that will provide services such as big data utilization by the corporation and the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, 5G smart medical technology, self-examination and
remote treatment experience, and medical device industry startup consulting will attract attention. Specifically, the Health Science Museum will feature an emergency medical experience exhibition and a corner for exploring the inside of the human body using augmented reality, while the Medical Technology Industry Museum will operate programs such as the history of medical technology development, robotic medical industry, 4D medical experience, and digital healthcare device experience. We plan to continuously fill the exhibits and educational content in cooperation with Wonju Medical Device Techno Valley, medical device-related organizations and companies, and local universities.
Meanwhile, achievements in the software field that are strengthening the foundation are also continuing. The ‘Technology Transaction Promotion Network Project’ promoted by Daegu City and Daegu Techno Park (Daegu TP) contributed to strengthening the global competitiveness of local companies by securing innovative technologies. The results include: △Discovery of 257 in-demand technologies △Contracting 92 technology transfers △Technology transfer contracts worth 4.3 billion won △Sales of 5.1 billion won and 32 jobs created through technology commercialization support (16 companies).
In fact, Azone Tech, which participated in the project, received the ‘Facial Image-Based Heart Rate Signal Measurement Technology’ from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in May of this year thanks to Daegu TP’s multifaceted technology transfer mediation efforts. Thanks to the active technical guidance of the ETRI research director, the company expects to successfully develop operational technologies and launch the product within the year after going through the commercialization process.
Woorisoft, a company specializing in cognitive rehabilitation SW development, also received technology transfer from the Keimyung University research team last year and successfully commercialized a ‘smart urine disposal device’ that can safely automatically discharge urine from the disabled, elderly, and bedridden patients. It is currently being supplied to domestic nursing and rehabilitation hospitals, having been recognized for its technology to discharge urine without contamination using precision sensors and suction motors, and is also preparing to enter the North American market.
Looking at this, a medical device industry insider said, “It is having a positive effect on building an ecosystem that serves as the foundation for the growth of the company as well as the development of the related market as a whole,” and predicted, “It will also have a positive effect on technological advancement through non-face-to-face technology marketing due to COVID-19, as well as the discovery and transfer of large-scale technologies.” He
also said, “Ultimately, the key is industrial competitiveness, and I hope that the infrastructure such as paper, infrastructure, and electricity will be provided in a timely manner through clusters so that companies can grow smoothly and local governments can also enjoy the effects,” and expressed his opinion that “We should make efforts to ensure that manufacturing and new technology development are carried out together, as it has the effect of gathering companies that were dispersed within the region in one place.”
Source: Medical Newspaper (http://www.bosa.co.kr)
