Prof. Heekwan Lee, Ph.D.
Director, Incheon Innovation Cluster for Environment Technology
Prof. Heekwan Lee is an internationally recognised expert in environmental and climate change engineering, with a career dedicated to advancing air quality management, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory analysis, and sustainable climate solutions. He currently holds multiple roles, including:
- Professor of Environmental Engineering, Incheon National University (since 2002)
- Professor of Climate Change, Graduate Department of Climate International Cooperation (since 2016)
- Director, I.NERGY Institute for Environmental Research and Energy (since 2010)
- Director, Institute of Environmental Convergence Technology (since 2019)
- Honorary Professor, Mongolian University of Life Sciences (since 2019) — fostering industry–academia collaboration and regional innovation in sustainability
His research covers ambient and indoor air quality monitoring, wireless sensor networks, emission inventory systems, dispersion and CFD modelling, image and signal analysis, big data applications using Python, and the design of advanced environmental technologies. His expertise also extends to climate change response strategies, including reduction potential assessments, vulnerability and risk evaluations, and frameworks for international cooperation.
Beyond Korea, Prof. Lee has held global appointments as Visiting Scientist at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (Austria), Visiting Scholar at the U.S. EPA Research Triangle Park, Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, and Honorary/Visiting Professor at institutions in Mongolia, China, and Taiwan. He earned his Ph.D. in Building Service Engineering from the University of Reading (UK), after completing his B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Engineering at the University of Seoul (South Korea).
At ASPA 2025, Prof. Lee will deliver a talk on “Cross-Border ESG Partnerships: A Pathway to Sustainable Growth”, highlighting how regional collaboration, innovation, and ESG-driven strategies can foster sustainable development across Asia and beyond.
Session: 1
Cross-Border ESG Partnerships: A Pathway to Sustainable Growth
Sustainability challenges rarely stop at national borders. From air pollution and carbon emissions to supply chain accountability, the solutions we create must be global, not just local. Cross-border ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) partnerships offer a powerful pathway for science parks, industry, and governments to accelerate sustainable growth together.
In this session, Prof. Lee will share insights from decades of research and international collaboration on air quality, greenhouse gas reduction, and climate technology. He will highlight how joint ESG initiatives between countries and regions can move beyond policy statements into measurable, science-driven action.
Participants will gain:
- Regional perspectives – how ESG cooperation can strengthen innovation ecosystems across Asia
- Collaborative models – frameworks for science parks and research institutes to build cross-border ESG initiatives
- Growth insights – why ESG-driven partnerships unlock long-term business and economic value
This session offers actionable insights for science park leaders, policy makers, and corporate innovators seeking to position ESG as both a sustainability commitment and a growth strategy for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, based on his valuable experience of multi-national cooperation.
