Gyeonggi Province: The Heart of Economic Vitality, Advocating for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Davos

Gyeonggi Province is excited to announce the opening of the 'Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR)’! C4IR is a regional coo...

Gyeonggi Province is excited to announce the opening of the 'Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR)’!

C4IR is a regional cooperation hub established in partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF), created to respond to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It aims to address the era's challenges and mitigate socio-economic inequality through public-private collaboration.

Since the first C4IR was established in San Francisco, USA, in 2017, 25 centers have opened across the globe, including in Germany and India.

In January of last year, Gyeonggi Governor Dong Yeon Kim attended the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos and signed an MOU for the establishment of a C4IR in Gyeonggi. During that time, he engaged with numerous global CEOs, thought leaders, and experts, gathering valuable advice and insights. 

In June 2024, Governor Kim met with Klaus Schwab, Chairman of the WEF, and signed a collaboration agreement. Chairman Schwab highlighted the profound changes brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly in business practices and lifestyles. He emphasized the importance of C4IR in helping businesses adapt to these changes and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.

In January this year, Gyeonggi’s C4IR officially began operations at the Pangyo Creative Economy Innovation Center, often referred to as “Korea’s Silicon Valley.”

The primary themes of Gyeonggi’s C4IR are AI-driven, focusing on three main areas:

• Startup Development
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Climate and Energy

Notably, ‘Startup Support’ is a theme introduced for the first time at any C4IR globally, highlighting the increasing significance of startups in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Gyeonggi Province aims to foster unicorn startups and enhance global competitiveness through the C4IR, leveraging the WEF’s global network and cutting-edge technology resources.

At the recent WEF in Davos, Governor Kim and Gyeonggi’s C4IR garnered considerable attention. Governor Kim was introduced as representing Korea with the opening of C4IR, marking an important milestone for the region.

C4IR is expected to play a variety of crucial roles, including:

• Gathering and disseminating global technology trends
• Collaborating on challenging projects and problem-solving
• Becoming a think tank for advanced technologies and future industries
• Building global networks and facilitating exchanges with WEF and other global centers
• Cooperating with WEF on global startup programs, functioning as a unicorn accelerator

The Gyeonggi C4IR is the 18th such center to open worldwide, making it a significant addition to the global innovation network.

Gyeonggi Province is committed to becoming a global hub for innovation, representing Korea on the world stage. With its focus on advancing technological collaboration and startup growth, Gyeonggi Province is taking bold steps toward positioning itself as a center of economic vitality.

We look forward to continuing to support Korea’s rise as a key player in the global economy!

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