Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsan City, University of Utah Sign MOU... "To Help Gyeongsangbuk-do Businesses Enter U.S. Market"

Gyeongsangbuk-do Province is working with Gyeongsan City, the University of Utah, and the University of Utah Asia Campus to establish a tailored support system to help local businesses enter the U.S. market.

On October 20, at Gyeongsan City Hall, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province signed a four-party memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Utah and the University of Utah Asia Campus. The signing was attended by Yang Geumhee, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province’s economic vice governor; Gyeongsan Mayor Jo Hyunil; and Gregory C. Hill, representative of the University of Utah Asia Campus.

Gyeongsan Mayor Cho Hyunil (left), Gyeongsangbuk-do Vice Governor for Economic Affairs Yang Geumhee (center), and University of Utah Asia Campus representative Gregory Hill signed a business agreement.

The agreement covers support for outstanding businesses in Gyeongsangbuk-do seeking to enter the U.S. market; industry-academia collaboration and joint research; exchanges and the development of joint projects among universities, research institutions, and businesses; and the creation of partnerships and identification of investment opportunities involving businesses, investors, and innovation organizations.

Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Gyeongsan City, and the University of Utah have been discussing ways to help local businesses expand globally and collaborate on technology commercialization. The province began discussions on cooperation with the University of Utah in November 2025 and visited Utah in September 2026 to review the university’s research infrastructure, including its startup support facilities and Nano Fab.

Through its Global Innovation Growth Support Program, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province plans to provide tailored assistance based on businesses’ growth stages and needs across four specialized tracks: investment attraction; exports and distribution; joint research and technology development; and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals and patent acquisition. Depending on businesses’ needs, the province also plans to establish a coordinated support system linking joint research and technology verification to technology commercialization, investment attraction, and entry into local markets.

Following the visit to the University of Utah’s Nano Fab, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province will discuss areas of collaboration with research institutions in the province, including POSTECH, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, and the Gyeongbuk Institute for Bioindustry. The province plans to identify projects linked to key local industries such as semiconductors, advanced materials, and biotechnology, and connect the university’s research成果 with the technological needs of businesses in the province.

“This agreement gives concrete form to the cooperation discussions with the University of Utah that have been underway since November 2025 and expands the foundation for collaboration,” said Yang Geumhee, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province’s economic vice governor. “By connecting Gyeongsangbuk-do’s industrial base with Utah’s research capabilities and global network, we will deliver tangible results, including helping local businesses enter the U.S. market, commercialize technology, and secure investment.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.