Pukyong National University

Pukyong National University Hosts Korea？Philippines Shipbuilding and Maritime Mobility Cooperation Forum

- Held on the 9th in Cebu, Philippines… Supporting Global Expansion of Yondang Campus-Based Companies

Pukyong National University (President Bae Sang-Hoon) held the Korea？Philippines Shipbuilding and Maritime Mobility Cooperation Forum on September 9 in Cebu, Philippines, in collaboration with Nam-gu District Office of Busan and the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Engineering Cooperative (KOSEC).

This marks the third edition of the forum, following previous events in Manila in 2019 and 2022. The event was organized to explore avenues for mutual development in the shipbuilding and maritime industries between Korea and the Philippines, while also supporting global market expansion for companies based at Pukyong National University’s Yondang Campus.

Through the Busan-type RISE (Regional Innovation System and Education) project, Pukyong National University is building a collaborative ecosystem that brings together local governments, industries, academia, and research institutes, with a focus on Blue Food Tech and Energy Tech sectors. In particular, the university organized this forum as part of its broader support program to help resident companies at the Yondang Campus explore new overseas markets, including the Philippines, through the Global Contract Promotion Task Force.

The event was attended by Ha Myung-Shin, Vice President for External Affairs at Pukyong National University; Kim Chan-Joong, Director of the RISE Project Operations Division and Director of Research Support; Oh Eun-Taek, Mayor of Nam-gu District, Busan; Lee Jung-Hwan, Chairman of KOSEC; and CEOs of resident companies. On the Philippine side, approximately 120 officials from the Department of Transportation, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Cebu City Government, the Philippine Navy, and the Manila Maritime Shipbuilders Association (MMSAI) participated in the event.

At the forum, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between KOSEC and MARINA, followed by business consultations and networking sessions between Korean companies and local enterprises and institutions. Through meetings with local shipyards and shipowners, participating companies were able to identify tangible cooperation opportunities and enhance their potential for securing actual contracts.

On the following day, September 10, Pukyong National University visited Cebu Technological University (CTU) to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for future collaboration and also visited MARINA to discuss practical cooperation plans linked to the activities of its resident companies. The outcomes of this forum are expected to lead to the signing of letters of intent (LOIs) for shipbuilding projects by resident companies at the upcoming KORMARINE 2025, an international maritime and shipbuilding exhibition to be held in October at BEXCO in Busan.

President Bae Sang-Hoon of Pukyong National University stated, “This cooperation forum has served as a practical platform not only for technological exchange but also for resident companies of the Yongdang Campus to create real business opportunities in the global market. We will continue to actively support these companies’ overseas expansion and lead the enhancement of the competitiveness of the regional and national shipbuilding and marine industries.” <Pukyong Today>