KTC Participates in the Launch of the 9th Regulatory Free Zone…Supporting Business Growth and Regional Innovation
MOU ceremony held at 2 PM on the 10th at Lotte Hotel Seoul, with participation from related professional institutions
Comprehensive support across all stages from demonstration to safety verification to commercialization Expected to establish a regional innovation cluster
▲ Photo of the Regulatory Support Team MOU Ceremony (Seong-Il Ahn, President of KTC, third from the left)
On the 11th, the Korea Testing & Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as KTC, President: Seong-Il Ahn) announced its participation as a professional institution in the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (hereinafter referred to as MSS) Regulatory Support Team (Chairman Byung-Joo Min, President of the Korea Institute for the Advancement of Technology) to ensure the successful operation of the newly launched Regulatory Free Zone.
On the 10th, at 2 PM, KTC signed an agreement as a professional institution at the '9th Regulatory Free Zone Launch Ceremony and Regulatory Support Team MOU Ceremony' held on the 3rd floor of Lotte Hotel Seoul, signaling the start of its activities.
The ceremony was attended by 250 key figures involved in the designation of the Regulatory Free Zone, including MSS Vice Minister Gi-Woong Oh, Chairman Byung-Joo Min, KTC President Seong-Il Ahn, and Gas Safety Research Institute President Won-Don Joo.
The agreement covers support for the newly designated 9th Regulatory Free Zone, including:
Technical support such as consulting on project direction before demonstration
Support for demonstration tests and certifications during the demonstration phase
Support for commercialization, including compliance with special conditions after the demonstration.
Additionally, the agreement includes joint discussions with regulatory departments to develop strategies for regulatory alleviation, plans for legal and regulatory adjustments, obtaining domestic and international standard certifications, discovering regional startup companies, and attracting investment for commercialization.
A Regulatory Free Zone is an area designated and announced by the MSS Minister under Article 75, Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Regional Special Zone Act. It aims to create investment and quality jobs in the region by easing regulations related to new businesses to promote regional innovation and balanced development.
Since its introduction in April 2019, a total of nine Regulatory Free Zones have been designated. The five newly designated zones in the 9th round are:
Gyeongbuk (cell-cultured food)
Daegu (Inno-Dental)
Chungnam (green ammonia for hydrogen power generation)
Gyeongnam (recycling of fishery by-products, hydrogen mobility for everyday use).
KTC plans to first engage in the Daegu Inno-Dental zone by verifying the clinical safety of bone graft materials derived from waste teeth and manufacturing processes. It will also collaborate on related medical device permits and legislative adjustments. Additionally, KTC will support the establishment of safety standards and legislative amendments for the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell products.
Seong-Il Ahn, President of KTC, stated, “As a professional institution, we will spare no effort to support all stages from the start of demonstration to post-demonstration commercialization, to ensure that the Regulatory Free Zone successfully establishes itself as a regional innovation cluster.” He added, “We will continue to do our best to contribute to the growth of domestic companies and regional innovation through sustained collaboration with related institutions.”
