South Korea Invests $10M in New Cultivated Meat Research Center

South Korea is investing $10 million in the construction of a new cultivated meat research center in Uiseong County. The center, expected to be completed in 2027, will span three floors and provide resources for companies to conduct research, seek regulatory approval, and commercialize cultivated meat. Plans include building a system capable of producing up to 100 kilograms of cultivated meat per year, with 11 companies expressing interest in operating within the center.

Uiseong County has been designated a special regulatory zone for cultivated food until 2028, allowing selected companies to demonstrate the commercialization of cultivated meat with R&D funding and tax breaks. This investment aligns with South Korea's efforts to accelerate the development of novel proteins, with partnerships in place to boost market research, knowledge exchange, and regulatory frameworks for novel foods. The aim is to reimagine how meat is made and leverage South Korea's R&D ecosystem to pioneer technological breakthroughs in cultivated meat development.