Tartu, EIS establish ties with South Korea's Gangwon Province

TALLINN - The southern Estonian university town of Tartu and Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS) are joining forces with the Gangwon Province of South Korea to strengthen cooperation in the fields of technology and innovation.

A memorandum of understanding was jointly signed, emphasizing the need for cooperation in areas such as biotechnology, green technology, and information and communication technology.

The goal of the partnership is to take advantage of the strengths of each region and organization to work together to boost the economy and be global leaders in technological development.

Gangwon Province, known for its high-tech industry, and Tartu, the Estonian knowledge and innovation center, want to work together to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life of its residents.

Nam Jin-woo, director of Gangwon Province's industrial field, said that the start of the collaboration marks a groundbreaking step in the vision to turn Gangwon into a region with global reach in the field of industries of the future.

"By collaborating with the Tartu city government and the Business and Innovation Agency, we want to develop not only our own technological capabilities, but also contribute more broadly to a shared future where borders are not an obstacle to innovation," he said.

EIS board member Liina Maria Lepik said that Estonia has already proven itself as a leading country when it comes to e-health and digital innovation.

"Through our partnership with Gangwon Province and Tartu city government, we can share expertise and best practices together, providing our companies with new experiences and opportunities through collaboration. Together, we will promote innovation that will drive our economies forward and solve important problems in the world," Lepik added.

The memorandum of understanding outlines key areas of cooperation, such as joint support for entering new markets, knowledge exchange, joint research project initiatives and pilot projects. The partnership will last for three years.