The Daegu Convention and Visitors Bureau (DCVB) is shifting its attention from new conventions to cultivating those that already have a strong foundation in Daegu. South Korea’s fourth largest city wants to shout about what it already has and in doing so, to cement its reputation as a hub for three of its lesser-known industries.
Today the DCVB is striving to distinguish Daegu as the leading hub for innovation and development within the textile, display and surgical robotics industry, and is now going after world-renowned events that attract global industry leaders. As one DCVB spokesman put it: “As Silicon Valley is synonymous with the tech industry, Daegu is working to gain the same status among these select industries.”
But how is it going about it?
South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organisation have recognised the city’s success in the field of region-specialised conventions. The International Textile & Fashion Vision Forum (TEXFO) has flourished in its cooperation with the DCVB and four local textile and fashion institutions.
As a result, the DCVB is investing in the future of TEXFO as well as the 14th International Meeting on Information Display (IMID) and the 2014 Asian Robotic Camp for Colorectal Surgeons (ARCCS), connecting local expertise with international events for what it hopes will deliver a magnifying effect on these industries.
Economic development underpins DCVB’s plan and investing in these three conventions is expected to set off a ripple effect through the local economy, beginning with established businesses for who the benefits of participating in large-scale events are proven. These conventions allow local leaders to network with domestic and overseas professionals in universities, companies and institutes relevant to Daegu’s major industries.
“DCVB has set its sights on ambitious, long-term goals in regards to nurturing these select industries,” said a DCVB spokesman. “High-quality region-specialised conventions send a clear message to industry leaders: Daegu is fertile ground for industrial infrastructure to take root.”
Of course these conventions provide some insight into the city’s expertise. Daegu is home to four of Korea’s seven textile and fashion institutes, half its textile company research institutes and a fifth of its textile companies. Fashion and textiles has long been an established industry in Daegu.
Daegu is at the centre of the information and communications technology industry. The birthplace of Samsung Group, events such as IMID are a unique opportunity to learn and share groundbreaking technology and information from global companies like Samsung and LG. The tradition of innovation continues into the medical industry in Korea. The city is home to a high-tech medical complex and medical institutions such as the Brain Research Institution and the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine have a strong reputation internationally.
In particular, the surgical robotics industry has thrived in this environment. ARCCS is the only international conference on colorectal robotic surgery and surgical robots are used in most colorectal cancer surgeries. Related medical robotics research infrastructure includes Kyungpook National University robot industry improvement centre, the Center for Pragmatic Research in Robotics of DGIST and the intelligent robot research team of Daegu Mechatronics & Materials Institute, as well as the Colorectal Cancer Center at Kyungpook National University.
Today the Daegu Convention and Visitors Bureau offers these businesses support so that they can reap the benefits of participating in these events. It is educating them to ensure they understand that conventions have the potential to be strong marketing tools, a place to share ideas and access the latest technology or spark relationships between professionals.
“Not only does investing in these events create opportunities for local industry; it paves the way for new growth,” said the spokesman.
This was first published in issue 77 of CMW. Any comments? Email: Zoe Vernor
