INU Songdo Campus

Incheon National University (President Injae Lee) has announced its commitment to becoming a leading regional hub for innovation, following the launch of the Ministry of Education’s RISE (Regional Innovation System for Education) initiative.

Slated to begin full-scale implementation in 2025, the RISE program shifts the central responsibility for university support to local governments. It aims to build a comprehensive five-year strategic plan aligned with regional development goals, in which universities, local governments, industries, and research institutions operate a collaborative governance model. The initiative focuses on fostering ecosystems in areas such as regional industries, academia-industry cooperation, and lifelong education.

With the vision of becoming a “Hub for Co-Growth Between the Region and Talent,” Incheon National University secured KRW 5.9 billion in first-year funding from the Incheon RISE project, which is led by Incheon Technopark. This is part of a total five-year budget of KRW 19.6 billion. The university alone will receive KRW 4.2 billion annually—KRW 21 billion over five years—when including associated projects like the Neulbom Program.

This initiative builds upon the success of the university’s LINC 3.0 (Leaders in Industry-University Cooperation) program, implemented over the past three years. Incheon National University has established Industry Cooperation Centers (ICCs) in strategic sectors such as bio, robotics, and marine industries. Moving forward, the university plans to expand its efforts into semiconductors, smart logistics, future mobility, carbon neutrality, and tourism, accelerating the training of high-level talent in these core industries.

The university will place special emphasis on integrated education in bio, semiconductors, and smart logistics to nurture skilled professionals tailored to industry needs. Educational programs in smart mobility—covering robotics, future vehicles, and drones—will be strengthened. Other initiatives include resource recycling, low-carbon technology development, and the training of marine and island tourism experts through projects like “Carbon-Neutral Industrial Innovation” and “Incheon Treasure Islands 168 Specialization.” These efforts will reinforce connections with local industries. In addition, entrepreneurship support and programs for overseas Korean students will further expand the university’s contributions to the local community.

Incheon National University envisions the RISE initiative not as a mere funding project but as a participatory model of regional innovation. The university plans to implement a demand-driven strategy that encourages diverse local stakeholders to actively engage in problem-solving, ultimately translating into tangible changes in the region.

To this end, the university will establish an open and continuous communication framework through workshops, information sessions, expert forums, and regional councils. Collaborative planning and implementation of policies and projects will serve to strengthen trust and partnerships within the region.

Kim Kyuwon, Director of the RISE Project Team at Incheon National University, stated, “We aim to create a best-practice model in which innovation at the university level leads to regional innovation, which in turn feeds back into university success.”

President Injae Lee added, “Incheon National University will go beyond being a mere educational institution to become a platform for fulfilling social responsibility. We will solidify our role as Korea’s leading national university that grows together with the community.”