KEPCO is focusing on developing Naju Bitgaram Innovation City as a software industry cluster as the energy industry shifts
from being hardware-centered to software-centered.
KEPCO’s initiative to foster the software industry aims to provide smart new energy services by integrating ICT convergence technologies
such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and artificial intelligence (AI).

On May 10, KEPCO held a joint agreement ceremony at its Naju headquarters with 14 institutions relocated to the innovation city,
5 software promotion organizations, and 54 software-related companies, including MCST, to develop Bitgaram Innovation City as a software cluster.

The ceremony was attended by 19 heads of institutions, including Cho Hwan-ik (President of KEPCO),
Kim Jong-ho (Director of the Postal Business Information Center), Lee Sang-moo (President of Korea Rural Community Corporation),
Yoo Dae-seon (Director of the National Radio Research Agency), along with representatives from the 54 companies.

Through the agreement, each institution and company agreed to form a working-level council to promote the software industry in Bitgaram Innovation City.
This includes the exchange of the latest IT technologies and information, collaboration with local academia-industry-research networks (R&D),
and the training and support of specialized software personnel. On this day, KEPCO presented concrete plans to develop Bitgaram Innovation City as a software cluster.
To support local software companies, starting from May this year, competitive bidding limited to the region will be implemented for procurement
and service projects in the ICT sector with announced amounts under 210 million KRW.

A representative software project includes the construction of the “Energy Valley Portal Site” to support companies located in Energy Valley.
KEPCO also held a co-growth workshop to provide an opportunity for institutions and companies to share and communicate strategies for software development.
During this session, the government’s software policy directions, IT project plans of public institutions,
and opinions from the regional industry on software development were collected.

Cho Hwan-ik, President of KEPCO, stated, “The software industry is a new growth engine that will create the future of Korea.
Through the convergence of the energy industry and software, high-value-added products must be developed and exported overseas.
We will do our best to make Bitgaram Innovation City a cradle where software companies can thrive.”