□ The Brain Engineering Convergence Research Center (Director: Jiwoong Choi) of DGIST (President: Kunwoo Lee) hosted the “Neuro-Replica Workshop” on the 21st to mark its selection for the “2025 Science and Engineering Academic Research Support Project, Glocal Lab” by the Ministry of Education and officially launch the project.
□ The workshop, held at the International Conference Hall of DGIST’s Research Administration Building (R1), showcased the Neuro-Replica technology—a core component of the Glocal Lab project—and explored collaborative approaches with companies in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions to foster a brain industry and startup ecosystem.
□ The Glocal Lab project is a large-scale initiative with a total planned investment of KRW 15.3 billion (KRW 14.4 billion from the national budget and KRW 900 million from Daegu City) over the next nine years. It aims to develop “neuro-replica,” which is a digital twin technology for replicating real brain neural circuits in a virtual environment. This technology is expected to provide a platform for accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy.
□ The event’s centerpiece was a keynote address by Professor Denis Noble of the University of Oxford—a globally recognized leader in systems biology. Speaking on the theme “Genes and the Nervous System,” Professor Noble explained how genes, as the basic units of life, interact with the intricate workings of the nervous system through the lens of systems biology, engaging the audience throughout his talk.
□ The workshop began with an overview of the project delivered by Director Jiwoong Choi of the Brain Engineering Convergence Research Center, followed by presentations on key technologies by Professors Junghyup Lee and Byeongmoon Lee. In the subsequent segment, “Industry and Entrepreneurship Lecture I,” Gbrain CEO Sunggu Yang and Marknova CEO Hyeok Choi shared their entrepreneurial journeys and highlighted successful cases wherein brain engineering technologies were commercialized.
□ The workshop’s afternoon session began with presentations by Ybrain CEO Kiwon Lee and Professor Jihoon Jeong of DGIST, followed by a networking segment featuring technology introductions and a Q&A session. This brought together 10 leading local medical device and biotech companies and related organizations, including Ossgen, Innoregen, 3H, Metaheart, Neopons, Vasflex, Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR), Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), and the Daegu Gyeongbuk Advanced Medical Industry Promotion Foundation. Additionally, Professor Howon Lee from the Kyungpook National University College of Medicine delivered a profound lecture on brain diseases.
□ Jiwoong Choi, Director of the Brain Engineering Convergence Research Center at DGIST, stated, “This workshop marked a meaningful first step in sharing the vision of the Glocal Lab Project and establishing a practical collaboration system with regional companies.” He added, “Through Neuro-Replica technology, we aim to position the Daegu and Gyeongbuk region as a global neurotech hub, while nurturing next-generation talent and supporting future entrepreneurial initiatives.”
□ The event was also attended by DGIST President Kunwoo Lee and representatives from partner institutions, including Kyungpook National University Hospital, Korea Brain Research Institute, and Kumoh National Institute of Technology. Following the workshop, participants toured the Brain Engineering Convergence Research Center (BCC) and attended a dinner, providing an opportunity for active technical exchanges.
