Sookmyung Secures KRW 11.7 Billion for Two Seoul ANCHOR Projects
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- Writer 커뮤니케이션팀
- 보도일자 2026-07-21
Sookmyung Women’s University has been selected to lead two projects under Seoul’s Regional Growth Talent Development System (ANCHOR), securing a combined KRW 11.7 billion in project funding.
The ANCHOR initiative is a newly restructured regional-university partnership program led by the Ministry of Education, building on the former Regional Innovation System and Education (RISE) framework. SMWU was selected for two initiatives: the Seoul ANCHOR 10 Challenge and the Youth Employment Academy University+ program.
Through the projects, the university will strengthen its capacity in advanced life sciences research and AI-driven educational innovation.
1) Seoul ANCHOR 10 Challenge: Foundational Technologies for Biological Renewal
SMWU’s “Seoul ANCHOR 10 Challenge: Foundational Technologies for Biological Renewal” is a large-scale, nine-year research project valued at KRW 8 billion. The initiative aims to extend healthy life expectancy by 10 years through the removal of senescent cells.
Led by Professor Jang Chang-young of the Division of Pharmacy, the project brings together leading Korean hospitals and global research institutions to develop foundational anti-aging therapies based on CAR-T cell therapy.
The research team will establish an end-to-end research framework encompassing target discovery, immunotherapeutic development, efficacy validation and data-platform development. Using blood data from approximately 150,000 individuals, the team plans to develop a Deep Bio-Digital Aging Twin Platform to advance precision medicine-based anti-aging treatments.
Through the project, SMWU aims to secure 22 patents, complete four technology transfers, publish 22 papers in journals with an impact factor of 10 or higher, and create KRW 200 billion in technology value. Building on its established strengths in life sciences and pharmacy, the university seeks to secure proprietary foundational technologies and translate its research outcomes into industrial value.
2) Youth Employment Academy University+: Sookmyung SeSAC+
SMWU was also selected for the Youth Employment Academy University+ program, a four-year initiative valued at KRW 3.7 billion. The program integrates Seoul’s Youth Employment Academy (SeSAC) model with university education to cultivate practice-ready talent.
Through Sookmyung SeSAC+, the university will train a total of 550 AI professionals through three tracks: AI Innovator for core AI competencies, AI Marketing Automation for AI convergence and AI K-Content as a university-specialized track.
Linked to SMWU’s Plus Semester program, SeSAC+ allows students to earn academic credit and complete microdegree programs. Its integrated structure connects education, field-based training and employment support, helping students build practical skills and strengthen their career readiness.
SMWU will offer a project-based learning curriculum tailored to industry demand and support internships and professional certifications through a network of approximately 940 companies. Drawing on the infrastructure of its University Job Plus Center—which has received excellent evaluations from the Ministry of Employment and Labor for 10 consecutive years—and its specialization in K-content, the university plans to provide students with diverse career pathways.
“This simultaneous selection for two Seoul ANCHOR projects demonstrates that Sookmyung is emerging as a university that helps shape the future of local communities and the nation through two key pillars: advanced life sciences research and AI talent development,” said President Moon Siyeon. “We will work closely with medical institutions, industry partners and local communities to create meaningful, tangible outcomes.”