THE South Korean city of Deagu last month played host two two major technology conventions from September 24 to 27, bringing together the brightest minds from the fields of innovation and medicine.
Held at the Daegu Gyongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, the 11th Asia Association of Learning Innovation and Coevolution Studies (ASIALICS 2014) saw former vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, Jong-Yong Yun, deliver the keynote speech.
It drew participation from researchers in local institutions, namely Keimyung University, Daegu Technopark, the Science and Technology Policy Institute, and the Korea Institute of Science & Technology Evaluation and Planning.
At the same time, the city also welcomed the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society Asia-Pacific Annual Conference 2014 at Daegu Exhibition and Convention Center.
The event was attended by 800 tissue engineering and regenerative specialists from 40 countries, who discussed and presented the most cutting-edge research in the field.
Delegates also went on a technical tour to visit the city’s infrastructure of medical research.
Jeong-Ok Grace Lim, president of the Korean Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Society which organises the conference, of which she is also programme chair, said Daegu has shifted its investments from the IT sector to biotechnology.
“Local officials have been especially influential in initiating research in this area, providing support to form a research partnership between Kyungpook National University and Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.”
Lim is also professor at Kyungpook National University Hospital’s Biomedical Research Institute.
In Daegu alone there are 3,000 medical institutions including 12 full-service hospitals, five medical schools, and 48 medical research centres.
