​1. Study Objectives and Methods

▮Research backgrounds and objectives

￮Formulating effective policies to promote Jeonbuk’s key industries entails 1) thorough examinations of each key industry’s regional features, 2) comparative analyses of industrial growth paths and cluster-related conditions, and 3) investigations into areas for improvement based on analytical findings. 

￮Among the region’s multiple key industries, we focus on the renewable energy industry that attracts policymakers’ attention with its promising vision of energy conversion, the Green New Deal, and Saemangeum Development Project. Centered on this analytical approach, this study aims to diagnose the ecosystem and cluster conditions of Jeonbuk’s renewable energy industry and propose mid-to-long-term policy recommendations to encourage the industry’s sustainable growth. 

▮Research scope and methods

￮This study’s research scope is limited to the renewable energy industry, one of Jeonbuk’s key industries.

￮Of various renewable energy sub-sectors, this study confines its analysis to solar and offshore wind energies to which Jeonbuk is dedicated and approaches these renewable energies from an industrial perspective to promote the region’s manufacturing sector.

￮For the analysis, this study leverages a wide array of qualitative and quantitative methods such as statistical analysis, spatial analysis, case studies, company visits, and interviews with and advice from the region’s experts.

2. Conclusion and Policy Suggestion

▮Conclusion

￮Jeonbuk has secured a range of competitive edges; 1) it is home to many companies that specialize in renewable energy, 2) it is committed to promoting related manufacturing sectors, and 3) it offers certification systems for floating photovoltaics and offshore wind power.

￮However, Jeonbuk leaves something to be desired in terms of 1) the absence of anchor companies, 2) immature industrial clusters, 3) the lack of research institutions, and 4) a dearth of absolute competitiveness in potential renewable energy markets.

￮To enhance its industrial competitiveness with regard to the renewable energy industry, Jeonbuk must set policy priorities for creating renewable energy development complexes tailored to the region while channeling its resources into specialized clusters for floating photovoltaics and offshore wind power ahead of other regions.

￮In the absence of innovative institutes, technological innovations should be pursued based on corporate demand. In this respect, Jeonbuk needs to devise mid-to-long-term plans to effectively navigate the critical issue of fostering a culture of innovation in the region. Moreover, it is advisable to help regional institutes reorganize or expand their functions to keep pace with new technological developments while closely collaborating with relevant institutes in other regions. 

▮Policy recommendations

￮Targeting three areas of market, manufacturing, and innovation, this study presents seven major tasks designed to reinforce the competitiveness of Jeonbuk’s renewable energy industry for solar and offshore wind energies. We break these down further into small, manageable sub-tasks to facilitate the process.​