President Cha Dong-hyung of Ulsan Technopark.

Ulsan Technopark, an institution designed to provide R&D support to SMEs, was evaluated to be the top destination among technology parks across the nation for the second straight year.

Ulsan Technopark received an S grade, the highest grade in a business performance evaluation of 18 technology parks across the nation, by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), Ulsan Technopark said on Sept. 24. It is the first time Ulsan Technopark has been rated to be a top institution since its establishment in 2003.

Ulsan Technopark was highly evaluated for focusing on capabilities to overhaul an industrial structure for the nurturing of technology startups and characteristics of the region. The technopark has been credited with boosting the use of top-class R&D equipment and providing diverse support corresponding to the needs of tenant companies.

In July, Ulsan Technopark was also rated an S grade, the highest level, in an evaluation of projects to nourish industries of each region by the MSS.

The technopark was given 1.5 billion won for its top grade in the evaluation. Ulsan Technopark became the first technology park in Korea to receive the highest grade in both evaluations of business performances and projects to nourish industries of each region.

Utilization of R&D equipment is getting higher at Ulsan Technopark. The rate with which equipment is utilized, which stood at 87.2 percent, rose to 102.7 percent in 2017. However, this year all R&D equipment has been utilized without being idled.

An aerial view of Ulsan Technopark. (Photos: Ulsan Technopark)

Ulsan, Evaluated to be Hub of Small, Strong Technology Firms

The Ulsan Metropolitan Government and Ulsan Technopark attracted a combined 66 small, strong technology companies in 2019 and 2020, the technology park said on Sept. 9.

The metropolitan government and Ulsan Technopark evaluated that the technology park has been evolved into a hub of small but strong technology companies in the region by supporting SMEs’ technology development and commercialization and intensively nurturing technology-innovative SMEs.

The metropolitan government and Ulsan Technopark’s efforts to attract small but strong technology companies have paid off. Ulsan attracted 36 companies related to mainstay industries and new growth engine industries last year and 30 companies this year.

Forty-five companies or more than half of the firms which had moved into Ulsan set up their headquarters, plants or research institutes in Ulsan Technopark.

The metropolitan government and Ulsan Technopark offer diverse support programs in accordance with a growth management support regime for tenant companies.

Ulsan Technopark has five industrial complexes in five districts: Daun, Maegok, Hyeoksin, Doowang, and Haknam to accommodate 187 tenant companies.

The metropolitan government and Ulsan Technopark offer support tailored to meet the needs for each stage of growth, ranging from funds to technology, manpower, education and equipment utilization.

A majority of tenant companies are participating in state-initiated R&D tasks, and they have registered patents and attracted investments.