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Tag: Seoul National University

IPB Strengthens Research with KOICA-ICAB

Posted on by GlobalConnectivity_IPB

IPB University, in collaboration with Seoul National University (SNU) supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), continues to advance the KOICA–ICAB Project: Capacity Building for the Center for Agriculture and Bioscience of IPB University in Indonesia. 

This seven-year initiative (2022–2028), valued at USD11 million, aims to establish the National Instrumentation Center for Agriculture and Bioscience (NICAB) as a national shared research facility supporting innovation, advanced research, and sustainable development.

Since its launch in 2022, the project has focused on strengthening research facilities and infrastructures, as well as enhancing human resource capacity and fostering innovation in the green biosciences. Key activities include the construction of new laboratories, the modernization of existing facilities, and the provision of advanced academic and professional training programs. The project supports IPB University’s mission to become a leading center of excellence in bioscience and environmental management.



As of October 2025, several major milestones have been achieved. The architectural design for the NICAB building has been finalized, the Advanced Research Laboratory (ARLab) remodeling has been completed, and the Animal Cell Culture Laboratory was officially inaugurated during the second KOICA–ICAB Steering Committee Meeting in September 2025. In addition, eight training programs have been conducted, four IPB faculty members are currently pursuing Ph.D. degrees at SNU, and three faculty members from the National University of East Timor (UNTL) are undertaking graduate studies at IPB University, one of whom completed an M.Sc. last year.

The beneficiaries of the project include IPB faculty members, researchers, and students, as well as academic partners from Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), Timor-Leste. With active involvement from Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology; Ministry of Forestry; and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN); the KOICA–ICAB project also strengthens cooperation between academia, industry, and government. 

Through the KOICA–ICAB Project, IPB University reinforces its role as a leading center of excellence in agriculture and bioscience, while further deepening cooperation between Indonesia and the Republic of Korea. By 2028, NICAB is expected to be fully operated as a national shared research facility.

and bioscience, while further deepening cooperation between Indonesia and the Republic of Korea. By 2028, NICAB is expected to be fully operated as a national shared research facility.

KRDA Spring Conference on Regional Balance

Posted on by [email protected]

The Korean Regional Development Association (KRDA), a prestigious academic society with deep roots in regional planning and development research, held its 2025 Spring Academic Conference at Seoul National University under the theme “Balanced Regional Development in the Era of Hyperconnection and Intelligence.” The event was co-hosted with the Council of Mayors, Governors, and District Chiefs of Korea, the Green Bio Science & Technology Institute of Seoul National University, and the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT).

The association, currently led by Professor HungBack Lim of the Department of International Development Cooperation at Sungkyul University, organized more than ten thematic sessions during the day. Topics ranged from AI-based urban and regional development strategies to regional balance policies, spatial transformations driven by marketization in North Korea, and the interconnection between international migration and development. The event drew a wide audience of scholars, graduate students, and policymakers.

Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Professor Chang-Heum Byun of Sejong University, participated actively and presented a paper, offering insights into spatial policy through the lens of both academic expertise and administrative experience. Also attending was Professor Taewan Kim of the University of Sharjah, a notable political figure turned academic, who contributed to discussions on global university engagement and the internationalization of regional development.

The association has produced many prominent figures in academia and government, including the current Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Professor Mireung Song. Other distinguished alumni include Professor Seong-Woo Lee of Seoul National University, Professor Jong-Hoon Park of Hanbat National University, Professor Su-Yeon Nam of Sungkyul University, and Professor Jeong-Hoon Kee of Myongji University. Their continued engagement in research and policy underscores the association’s vital role in shaping the future of Korea’s regional development strategy.

The 2025 Spring Conference not only addressed the challenges of a hyperconnected and intelligent society but also reaffirmed the Korean Regional Development Association’s central position in advancing inclusive, balanced, and forward-looking regional policies in Korea and beyond.