The evolution of Korea's regional innovation system: the case of Daedeok Innopolis

Hye-Ran Hwang and Jae-Yong Choung

Chapter 16 in Research Handbook on Regions and Transformative Innovation Policy, 2026, pp 259-279 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This article aims to determine the implications for policymaking of upgrading RICs by moving beyond the legacy of the “developmental state.” It does so through a review of the evolution of Korea's Regional Innovation System (RIS) and a case study of Daejeon as a representative R&D hub. Specifically, it examines the evolutionary process of the Daedeok R&D Special Zone (DRSZ), the changing characteristics of the Daejeon RIS at each stage, and the co-evolution of the DRSZ and the Daejeon RIS. The paper highlights the central government's sustained support for the Daedeok R&D Special Zone over the past 50 years, the emergence of new innovation entities, and the changes in relationships among innovation actors as key factors driving system transformation. Finally, the paper offers policy recommendations for further advancing the transformation innovation system.

Keywords: South Korea; Daedeok; Daejeon; Transition; Catch-up; Daedeok Innopolis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309924
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