IBRO 2019 was a “turning point for promoting Korea’s neuroscience research capabilities" and pivotal in its global repute as a convention city Photo Credit: IBRO 2019 /International Brain Research Organization
The 2019 World Congress of Neuroscience (IBRO 2019) is one of several
success stories that have elevated the reputation of South Korea and
Daegu in the MICE industry as well as gained the confidence and respect
of distinguished associations.
It
attracted 4,385 delegates, 125 exhibitors and the best of global
neuroscience experts who participated in 11 invited lectures, 40
symposia, four special programmes, four poster sessions with 1,550
posters, two workshops, 19 socials and six satellite events.
Daegu was the host city for IBRO 2019, and it proved to be “a turning
point for promoting Korea’s neuroscience research capabilities and
strengthening international cooperation” attests Professor Moon Che-il
from Daegu Gyeonghuk Institute Science and Technology.
The country's foundation for neuroscience begain in 1998 when the
Korean government enacted the ‘‘Brain Research Promotion Act’’ to
promote the importance of brain science and to facilitate the
industrialisation of developed technologies. Neuroscience research
became one of the nation’s priorities.
In addition to the Daegu Gyeonghuk Institute of Science and
Technology, the main Korean universities and institutes that deal with
neuroscience and behavior are Seoul National University, Korea
University, Yonsei University, Korea Brain Research Institute (based in
Daegu), and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology. Today, South
Korea is regarded as among the top countries to study neuroscience.
In 2016, a flagship programme called the “Korean Brain Initiative”
(KBI) was launched. Local, national, and global collaborative networks
became very important strategies to achieve KBI’s vision. It accelerated
the interest of global experts and associations that eventually led to
Daegu's hosting of IBRO 2019.
The milestone event showcased the biennial Congress of the Federation
of Asian-Oceanian Neuroscience Societies, the Global Neuroethics
Summit, the International Brain Initiative Coordinating Body Meeting,
the launch of the China-Japan-Korea Consortium and the first high-level
forum on the Neuroscience of Learning between ministers of education and
neuroscientists organised by IBRO and IBE-UNESCO.
As a result of the congress, the Korea Brain Research Institute
(KBRI) secured a budget of US$10.3 million for its Brain Map
Establishment and Convergence Challenge Project. It aims to develop core
technology that will change the paradigm of brain research. A legacy
impact from the congress included the addition of the Phase II research
wing at the institute, which prioritises research applications and
commercial activities.
In 2019, Sung-Jin Jeong from KBRI was elected as secretary general of
IBRO, reflecting the high regard and respect given to Korea’s
leadership in this field. Dr. Jeong, who is Lab Head of KBRI, reflected
on how hosting IBRO 2019 catapulted the transformation for South Korea
and Daegu.
“It completely changed how international neuroscientists saw Korea
and Daegu. We now have enough global recognition and cooperative
relationships to join the ranks of advanced countries. This experience
gave Korea and Daegu a foundation for building a global network and
becoming a global centre for brain research,” says Dr Jeong.