Launch Ceremony for the Global ESG Carbon Neutrality Council and Global Advisory Committee

Incheon National University (INU) RISE Project Group (Director Kim Gyu-won) has laid the foundation for international cooperation by officially launching the Global ESG & Carbon Neutrality Council and the Global Advisory Committee. This event was jointly hosted by Incheon Metropolitan City and the INU RISE Project Group as part of the Incheon Metropolitan City's Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE) project, "Strengthening Support for Industrial Innovation to Achieve Carbon Neutrality."

Held from September 16th to 18th in Songdo, Incheon, and at the Oakwood Premier Incheon hotel, the event saw the participation of major international associations including European Bioplastics (EUBP), the Thai Bioplastics Industry Association, the China Bioplastics Association, the Japan Bioplastics Association, the Australasian Bioplastics Association, the Taiwan Bio-based and Sustainable Materials Association, the Malaysia Bioplastics Association, and the Korea Bioplastics Association. Global companies and research institutions such as Braskem (Brazil), Emirates Biotech, ITENE (Spain), the Compost Manufacturing Alliance (USA), and TÜV AUSTRIA (Austria) also took part.

From Korea, relevant organizations including Incheon Metropolitan City, the Incheon RISE Center (ITP), The Incheon Institute, Incheon National University, Kyungin Women's University, the Korea Plastic Industry Cooperative, the Korea Chemical Industry Council, and The Polymer Society of Korea, along with major corporations like LOTTE Chemical, CJ CheilJedang, and GS Caltex, participated. A total of 151 attendees, including academic experts, engaged in in-depth discussions on various topics such as ESG management, renewable energy, eco-friendly materials, and industrial innovation policy.

At the Global Advisory Committee's Strategic Advisory Roundtable held on the first day, discussions focused on ▲response strategies for EU plastics regulations, ▲strategies for securing the export competitiveness of domestic companies, ▲strengthening the division of labor for eco-friendly materials like PHA and PLA, and ▲methods for fostering an industrial ecosystem and reflecting it in policy. Participants notably agreed on the need for a joint response from local government, industry, academia, research institutes, and government to proactively address global ESG regulations, moving beyond the limitations of individual corporate efforts.

Following this, at the Asia-Pacific Bioplastics Global ESG & Carbon Neutrality Council meeting on the 18th, key agenda items included ▲forming a council within the Asian region and strengthening international solidarity, ▲strategies to address the UNEP international treaty, ▲expanding the use of biodegradable plastics and promoting demonstration research, and ▲cooperation on standardizing national certification systems. In particular, Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, China, and Japan emphasized their commitment to cooperation by proposing joint certification systems and demonstration projects.

Networking Program

Alongside these events, the networking program held during the event led to the establishment of practical cooperative partnerships between domestic companies and overseas associations. Global strategy development plans linked to the i-RISE project, promoted by Incheon National University, were also shared.

Kim Gyu-won, Director of the Incheon National University RISE Project Group, stated, "This launch is a significant opportunity for Incheon National University to move beyond the local region and take a leading role in international ESG and carbon neutrality governance. We will continue to institutionalize the operation of the global council to lead the way in creating an industrial ecosystem, influencing policy, and expanding our international cooperation network."

Furthermore, Kang Dong-gu, Head of the Industry-University Cooperation Foundation (and Vice Director of the RISE Project Group), emphasized, "ESG and carbon neutrality are essential tasks for domestic companies. This council and advisory committee will establish themselves as an industrial innovation platform where industry, academia, and policy institutions can collaborate to prepare strategies and action plans." He added, "By linking with major global institutions, we will support domestic companies in responding to international standards and enhancing their technological competitiveness, and we will actively support the 'Strengthening Support for Industrial Innovation to Achieve Carbon Neutrality' project by boosting the innovative capabilities of Incheon's local industries."

Through this launch ceremony, the Incheon National University RISE Project Group will begin full-scale operation of the Global ESG & Carbon Neutrality Advisory Committee and accelerate its efforts to influence policy and create an industrial ecosystem based on its network of cooperation between local government, industry, academia, research institutes, and government. It also plans to vitalize international joint research and technology exchange to help domestic companies proactively respond to global ESG regulations and the transition to carbon neutrality. Moving forward, the RISE Project Group, centered on this council and committee, will continue to disseminate a sustainable industrial innovation model and take the lead in strengthening competitiveness, not just for the Incheon region but at the national level.