National Gunsan University announced on the 23rd that Jeon Yeong-jun, the head of the business support team, was awarded a commendation from the Minister of Education for his contributions to "Supporting University Innovation and Regional Development in 2025" at the '2026 National University RISE Project Winter Achievement Forum' held from the 20th to the 22nd.

This commendation, the only one among universities in North Jeolla Province, was awarded to Gunsan University for its contributions to creating a regional industrial ecosystem through RIS Energy New Industry and RISE projects, including operating a collaboration system among industry, academia, research, and government, nurturing talent based on the demands of youth and companies, and jointly planning an international secondary battery conference.

On the second day of the forum, Professor Yoo Hyun-hee was selected as an outstanding presenter in the field of 'Solving Regional Issues' and shared the case of 'Gunsan-style Aquatic Food & Soybean By-product Living Lab.' This project presented a collaboration model among industry, academia, research, and government through supporting the settlement of companies in the aquatic food comprehensive complex and value-added transformation of soybean by-products.

Jang Min-seok, the head of the RISE project team, stated, "We will strive to nurture talents who settle in the region by pursuing research projects centered on fieldwork related to strategic industries in North Jeolla Province."