Page 70 - U4SSC Case study Daegu, Korea (Republic of), February 2022

7.2.2 Innovation

R&D spending in Daegu is a credible 2.26 per cent of city GDP and the rate of new patents
(115/100 000 inhabitants) indicates that innovation has taken hold within the city, which bodes well
for the future transition to a more digital-based economy. Daegu has provided various incentives
to local software companies with excellent technology and innovative ideas. The city supports
many activities such as participation in domestic and foreign exhibitions, overseas collaboration,
prototype production, consulting and human resource development.

7.2.3 Transport

Transport is a key infrastructure in any city and one that can be improved significantly through the
application of ICT systems. In keeping with the trends in other smart-related KPIs, Daegu’s major
arterial roads are monitored 100 per cent by ICT systems. While few intersections are currently
controlled adaptively (1.98 %), Daegu plans to install CCTV at about 250 major intersections by
2023 and develop an AI-based smart transportation system that gathers information and uses it
to optimize and control traffic signals in real time.

There is a good public transport network consisting mainly of the Daegu Metro, with three lines –
one of which is a monorail – and an extensive bus network. Consistent with data reported on other
smart KPIs, 100 per cent of Daegu’s public transport stops have dynamic information available. The
Daegu Bus Management System allows for real-time information to be displayed at each of the
3226 bus stops in the city and online. There are areas for improvement and the most impactful could
be to reduce the 45.20 per cent transportation mode share for private vehicles (see Figure 34),
even though the time travel index value of 1.37 indicates that congestion is not a serious problem.
More emphasis on programmes and policies to reduce private vehicle use is strongly encouraged.

Figure 34: Daegu transport mode share

52 U4SSC Case study | Daegu, Korea (Republic of) | February 2022