AMES, Iowa -- Soyzen, a South Korean company that has developed processing technologies to maximize the nutrition of soybean products, will open an office in the Iowa State University Research Park.
The company's lease begins July 1. The company is expected to begin operations with a small staff that will explore the possibility of marketing and producing food products in the United States.
James Bloedel, Iowa State University's vice provost for research, said the company's research park office could grow to include laboratory operations.
The Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Iowa Department of Economic Development and Iowa State University have worked for several years to attract Korean companies to Iowa. Darryl Gosnell, the partnership's executive vice president for economic development; Michael Blouin, the economic development department's director; and Iowa State's Bloedel led the efforts to recruit Soyzen to Iowa. Gov. Tom Vilsack joined the three on a recruiting trip to Seoul last May.
Pulmuone, a Korean food company with operations in Grinnell, was the first company brought to Iowa by the recruiting efforts. Soyzen is the first company to locate in the Iowa State University Research Park.
Bloedel said three other Korean companies are considering operations in the research park.
More information about Soyzen is available at http://www.soyzen.com.