The 7th WCIFIT ｜ South Korea's "National Team" of Design Establishes Presence in Liangjiang New Area

On the afternoon of May 22, at the "City of Design" Industrial Design New Product Launch Event during the 7^th WCIFIT, the China-South Korea Future Design Co-Creation Platform was officially inaugurated and established at the SinoSwiss Technopark. This marks Chongqing's first in-depth collaboration with South Korean design organizations.

At the ceremony, Zhang Guangming, Deputy Director of the Liangjiang New Area Administrative Committee, and Ahn Jung-woo, Director of Export Platform Division at the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA), jointly unveiled the plaque for the China-South Korea Future Design Co-Creation Platform.

According to reports, the China-South Korea Future Design Co-Creation Platform is spearheaded by the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA), in collaboration with institutions including the Gyeonggi Content Agency (GCA), the Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP), and the Seoul Fashion Hub. The platform focuses on full-spectrum collaboration across gaming, animation, comics, intellectual property (IP), and fashion design. Leveraging the international transformation platform at SinoSwiss Technopark in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing, the initiative aims to facilitate the global commercialization of outstanding design achievements from both countries. It will actively promote the establishment of South Korean design institutions in Chongqing, jointly building a sustainable ecosystem integrating design, culture and technology.

▲ On May 22, 2025, at the "City of Design" Industrial Design New Product Launch Event of the 7^th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) held at Chongqing International Expo Center, the China-South Korea Future Design Co-Creation Platform was officially inaugurated.  Photo by Reporter Xie Zhiqiang/Visual Chongqing

"The platform aims to fully integrate South Korea's outstanding designers and design achievements with China's industrial projects and technologies. Through collaboration with Chongqing's '33618' modern manufacturing cluster system, the two sides can deepen cooperation in industries such as consumer goods, biomedicine, and apparel, enhancing the ability of design to empower industrial development", said Park Un-bon, Chief Representative of the Chongqing Office of the GBSA, who noted that this is also GBSA's first design co-creation platform established in Western China.

It is reported that the platform marks another milestone achievement following the establishment of the "GBSA Innovation Center in China" in Liangjiang New Area last year. This center is the first and only innovation center set up by GBSA in China.

In fact, Seoul, South Korea, was designated as a "City of Design" by UNESCO as early as 2010. The city is home to over 70% of South Korea's designers and has created more than 170,000 design-related jobs in fields such as IT equipment, digital home appliances, and automotive industries. In October 2023, UNESCO's official website announced that Chongqing had been formally inducted into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a "City of Design", making it the first such city in Western China.

Industrial design is not only integral to high-quality development but also essential to high-quality living. Currently, Liangjiang New Area is vigorously advancing its industrial design sector. Notably, Yuelai International Convention and Exhibition City in Liangjiang New Area serves as the core hub for Chongqing's "City of Design" initiative. Key projects such as the Chongqing Design Park Innovation Base and the Yuelai Campus of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute are accelerating their development. Moving forward, Liangjiang New Area will further promote the development of the China-South Korea Future Design Co-Creation Platform, aiming to attract more outstanding design teams and effectively connect global innovation resources.

Source: New Chongqing - Chongqing Daily