The JBNU Regional Development Institute and Wanju County, which jointly operate the 'Wanju Research Institute', have begun full-scale operation as a regional innovation platform that combines the university's research capabilities and the local government's administrative capacity.

Wanju County and the JBNU Regional Development Institute held the "2026 1st Wanju Research Institute Subcommittee Meeting" at 4:00 p.m. on the 21st in the JBNU Convention Center Seminar Room. They shared major achievements from 2025 and operational directions for 2026. The meeting was organized as a cooperative procedure to practically incorporate the "Local Government Issue Resolution Project," which JBNU is pursuing as part of the Glocal University project, into Wanju County policy.

The meeting was attended by 35 people, including Lee Jong-hoon, Vice County Governor of Wanju, Yoo Dong-jin, Director of the Wanju Research Institute, Wanju County public officials, JBNU faculty, and external experts, who discussed policies based on industry–university–government collaboration.

In particular, team leaders from eight departments, including Wanju County's Planning and Budget Office, directly presented key policy issues such as development of new hydrogen industries; locally tailored educational support; strategies for leveraging national heritage; and revitalization of the local economy. In response, an expert advisory panel led by the JBNU Regional Development Institute proposed implementation strategies and directions for supplementation using JBNU's research infrastructure. The event was significant in that it focused on deriving a 'Wanju-style policy model' that can be applied on the ground, beyond simple advisory input.

Lee Jong-hoon, Vice County Governor of Wanju, said, "As JBNU's research assets are reflected across Wanju County administration through the Wanju Research Institute, the completeness of policy is improving," adding, "We will further strengthen this cooperative model in which the region and the university grow together."

Yoo Dong-jin, Director of the Wanju Research Institute, said, "The Wanju Research Institute is a practical platform that connects JBNU's expertise with Wanju County administration," and added, "We will continue to strengthen cooperation so that the discussed projects can translate into policy outcomes."