BISTEP, Busan Scientists and Engineers Association to Discuss Future of Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam, Building on 10 Years of Achievements

59 activities, including policy forums and advisory sessions, over 10 years since launch

71 members and a pool of 380 science and technology professionals from Busan living elsewhere

The Busan Scientists and Engineers Association, which has connected the expertise of science and technology professionals from Busan with regional policy and research and development, is marking its 10th anniversary by exploring ways to cooperate on science, technology and industrial innovation in Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongnam.

The Busan Scientists and Engineers Association and the Busan Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning (BISTEP) will hold the 2026 Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Science and Technology Leaders Forum on October 26, from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in the Orchid Room on the second floor of the Westin Josun Busan. Around 100 key figures from the science, technology and industrial sectors in Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongnam are expected to attend the event, which marks the association's 10th anniversary.

The association was launched in April 2016 to draw on the experience and expertise of science and technology professionals from Busan to advance the region's science and technology. It currently has 71 members in science and technology policy and research and development. The association is jointly operated by Busan Metropolitan City, BISTEP and the Busan-Ulsan Regional Federation of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies, and has continued to advise on key science and technology policy issues in Busan.

Membership has grown from 30 at the time of the association's launch to 71 today, a 2.4-fold increase. The pool of science and technology professionals from Busan living elsewhere that the association identifies and manages has also expanded from 260 to 380. In particular, the number of members from industry rose from 4 to 18, while the number from universities increased from 10 to 28, helping the association grow into a network spanning industry, academia, research and government.

Among the members, 53 people, or 75% of the total, have held key positions, including 7 former ministers or vice ministers, 3 agency heads, 7 university presidents, 1 National Assembly member, 35 heads of research or public institutions, and 16 business leaders. These figures exclude individuals counted in more than one category.

Over the past 10 years, the association has held a total of 59 activities: 21 regular general meetings, 13 advisory meetings, 12 policy forums and 13 ongoing advisory sessions. It has held an annual policy forum in conjunction with Busan R&D Week to share trends in science and technology policy and a vision for Busan's future, and has discussed ways to advance regional science and technology, including at meetings with the Busan mayor.

The association has also continued to advise on major Busan Metropolitan City policies and projects. In its first year, it recommended 14 candidates for Busan Science and Technology Ambassador to the Busan mayor. It has since provided input on regional science and technology policies and projects, including planning for the Elastomer Materials Belt Development Project (2021), the Second Comprehensive Plan for the Promotion of Science and Technology in Busan (2022), and a plan to establish a research and development implementation framework for local governments (2023).

Under the theme "The Future of Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongnam Through Science, Technology and Industrial Innovation and Regional Solidarity," the forum will address industry and talent policies in response to region-led science and technology innovation, as well as cooperation to support sustainable development in the southeastern region. It is co-hosted by Busan Metropolitan City, BISTEP, the Busan Scientists and Engineers Association, and the Busan-Ulsan and Gyeongnam regional federations of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's Kori Nuclear Power Headquarters is sponsoring the event.

"The past 10 years have been a time in which the experience and networks of science and technology professionals from Busan have informed the city's policies and research," said Lim Yonggwan, acting president of BISTEP. "We will build a cooperative system in which the association's advice is reflected in Busan Metropolitan City's policies and the results are shared with the association."

Notice for the 2026 Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Science and Technology Leaders Forum.

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