Gyeongsangbuk-do is expanding cooperation in future industries such as AI and semiconductors by entering into business agreements with the Utah State Government and the University of Utah. A foundation has also been established to support local startups and innovative companies in entering the U.S. market and commercializing their technologies.

On September 21 (local time), Gyeongsangbuk-do signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for economic cooperation with the Utah State Government at the Utah State Capitol. This was followed by an agreement with the University of Utah to promote the global expansion of startups and innovative companies, technology commercialization, joint research, and industry-university-Institute collaboration.

A delegation led by Yang Geum-hee, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Park Soon-beom, Vice Chairman of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Council, signed the agreements in the Gold Room of the Utah State Capitol with Deidre M. Henderson, Lieutenant Governor of Utah, and Franz Kolb, Managing Director of Global Diplomacy and Economic Development at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.

The agreements aim to connect Gyeongsangbuk-do’s industrial and technological capabilities with Utah’s innovation ecosystem. Gyeongsangbuk-do will link Utah’s industrial and investment ecosystem with the province's manufacturing and industrial base to support companies in entering the U.S. market and building local networks. Furthermore, the province will broaden technology and industrial cooperation in future industries—including AI, semiconductors, and advanced industries—while expanding opportunities for inter-firm exchange and investment cooperation.

The agreement with the University of Utah was attended by President Taylor R. Randall and Vice President for Research Anshuman Razdan, among others. Both sides agreed to establish a global network for the U.S. expansion of provincial startups and innovative companies, foster and support businesses, pursue technology commercialization, and conduct joint research.

Leveraging the University of Utah's research and industrial network as well as startup support infrastructure, Gyeongsangbuk-do will connect local companies with U.S. local enterprises, investment institutions, and startup support organizations. Efforts will also include company matching, discovering joint projects, and facilitating technology commercialization and investment linkages. Additionally, a "Gyeongbuk-Utah Global Open Innovation Hub" connecting Gyeongbuk companies with Utah's universities, research institutes, and corporations will be established to serve as a collaborative platform aiding the global expansion of regional businesses.

The Gyeongsangbuk-do delegation visited the University of Utah's Nanofab to inspect research and technology development sites in the semiconductor and nanotechnology sectors. The Nanofab is a research infrastructure equipped with cleanrooms and research/process equipment that supports semiconductor and nanotechnology research and prototyping. The delegation received briefings on major research facilities, operational status, and support systems for research and technology commercialization, while observing how the university's research capabilities are linked with enterprises and research institutes to drive technology development and commercialization.

Gyeongsangbuk-do will develop its cooperation with the Utah State Government and the University of Utah into a global cooperative framework connecting "state government–universities–corporations." Centered around a working group, the province plans to discover implementation tasks for the agreements and drive follow-up projects by expanding exchanges among companies, universities, and research institutes.

"This cooperation with the Utah State Government and the University of Utah is a significant starting point connecting Gyeongbuk's industries and companies with the U.S. innovation ecosystem," said Yang Geum-hee, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do. "We will expand cooperation in future industries such as AI and semiconductors, and build a practical support system so that Gyeongbuk companies can advance into the global market."

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