Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, is launching its "Advanced Industry Scale-up" program this year to overhaul the local economy. The city aims to shed its bedroom community image and transform into a self-sufficient city with concentrated high-tech industries.
The city announced on January 6 that it will establish a full-cycle support system in partnership with Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, covering startup discovery, investment connections, and global expansion. The core initiative involves administrative support for early-stage startups in areas difficult to handle alone: network building, investment attraction, and market expansion.
The program consists of three main pillars. First, two rounds of in-depth networking sessions will develop customized growth strategies for each company. Next, demo days will provide IR opportunities with investors and connect participants with feedback from professional investment firms. The city also plans to strengthen overseas expansion support, including participation in international exhibitions such as CES.
The initiative also focuses on cultivating young talent. The city plans to develop workforce ready for immediate deployment in industrial settings through advanced technology education, seminars, and hackathons aimed at solving local problems.
The city's initiative is part of a mid-to-long-term strategy to strengthen its industrial base as a hub city in northern Seoul metropolitan area. The plan leverages proximity to Seoul while building an independent industrial ecosystem to circulate jobs and tax revenue within the region.
A city official said, "We will gradually build an industrial ecosystem where companies can stay, take on challenges, and grow."
