- Total investment of 6.6 billion won… Strengthening regional competitiveness centered on university innovation and future industry workforce development -

To enhance Incheon's future competitiveness, the city is expanding its Regional Innovation-Centered University System (i-RISE) project in line with the new government's national policy direction. This includes AI workforce development and ultra-regional projects.

Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that it held the Incheon RISE Committee meeting on October 24th and deliberated on key agenda items including: ▲Utilization Plan for the 2025 Incheon Metropolitan City Phase 2 RISE Project Funds ▲Revision of RISE Project Fund Execution and Management Standards (Draft) ▲Whether to Establish a RISE Expert Committee.

* The Incheon RISE Committee was launched on December 18, 2024, and is the highest decision-making body for the RISE project, comprising 21 members including the Mayor, City Council members, university presidents, the Superintendent of Education, representatives from the economic and industrial sectors, and relevant institutions.

A total of 6.6 billion won (5.5 billion won in national funds, 1.1 billion won in city funds) will be invested in this second phase. The utilization plan focuses on: ▲ Expanding new projects such as AI talent development, solving regional issues, and designing ultra-regional projects ▲ Strengthening existing initiatives by increasing budgets for Incheon's flagship projects and ongoing programs ▲Strengthening universities' self-sustaining innovation capabilities by expanding participation opportunities for smaller institutions.

Incheon City plans to conduct an additional call for RISE project participation among local universities in November. It will select participating universities through a fair and transparent process using a Selection Evaluation Committee composed of experts from academia, industry, and research institutions.

Specifically, it plans to strengthen specialized education in future core technologies linked to Incheon's six strategic industries—bio, semiconductors, aviation, future vehicles, robotics, and data/digital—and establish a super-wide industrial belt through cooperation with neighboring local governments to expand the regional industrial ecosystem and promote mutual growth.

Through this, the city aims to leap forward as a smart technology innovation economy hub by creating jobs centered on new industries through leading artificial intelligence (AI) talent cultivation and establishing a globally competitive university innovation system.

Shin Seung-yeol, Director of the City's Planning and Coordination Office, stated, “The RISE project is the core strategy for systematically developing Incheon's future competitiveness,” adding, “We will spare no effort to realize Incheon as a world-class city preparing for the future by combining the specialized fields and expertise of local universities with the city's industrial strengths.”