The Future Opening of a Stanford Research Center at the Incheon Global Campus (SCIGC) in Songdo

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority announces the future opening of a Stanford research center at the Incheon Global Campus (SCIGC) in Songdo.  Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority Commissioner Wonjae Lee signed the agreement between Stanford and IFEZA in Stanford, California, USA at 3:30 p.m. on December 2, 2019 to formally establish the center, which is expected to officially open in the second half of 2020.

This center will be located at the Incheon Global Campus in Songdo International City, and will initially conduct research in various fields, including smart city technology, urban environment, finance and economy, and smart city system integration and logistics.  It will also actively carry out mutual exchanges through joint projects with Korean universities and related institutions.

Having Stanford’s center in Songdo is expected to facilitate joint research with leading universities in Korea such as Yonsei University, Seoul National University, Korea University, and KAIST, as well as Korean businesses.  It is also expected to enhance the competitiveness of Korean industries by combining the advanced ICT of Korea with the smart city infrastructure of the Songdo International City.

Five foreign universities including the State University of New York have already opened campuses in Songdo, Incheon, and the opening of Stanford’s center at the Incheon Global Campus is expected to further strengthen education ecosystem of Songdo International City.

Ahn Sung-il, head of the Free Economic Zone Office, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said we expect the Stanford Center at the Incheon Global Campus will enhance joint research between related institutions and companies and we hope the research result can be reflected in building smart cities in each region.

While visiting Stanford for the signing, Commissioner Wonjae Lee met with university administrators and researchers from the Stanford School of Engineering, the Stanford Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Stanford School of Medicine, the Stanford Center for Professional Development, the Stanford Center for Design Research, and the Stanford Office of International Affairs.

As a foundation of Silicon Valley’s successful model of industry-academic cooperation, it is very meaningful that Stanford is establishing a research center in South Korea. IFEZA and SCIGC look forward to the collaborative development of Incheon and the enhancement of Industrial-Academic Cooperation in South Korea.