Ulsan Sets Sail for Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Company and Workforce Development Project

Ulsan City Selected for Ministry of Industry's 'Energy Technology Development Project and Energy Workforce Training Project'
NovaTech Co., Ltd. and International Nuclear Graduate School... Secured 6 Billion KRW in National Funding

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Ulsan City's project to nurture nuclear power plant dismantling specialized companies and personnel is gaining momentum.

On the 9th, Ulsan City announced that NovaTech Co., Ltd.'s "Development Project for Virtual Nuclear Power Plant Dismantling Workshop and Remote Dismantling Work Training System with Force-Torque Reaction" and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Graduate Schools (KINGS)'s "Smart Nuclear Power Plant Dismantling Convergence Talent Nurturing Project" were finally selected in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 'Energy Technology Development Project' and 'Energy Workforce Training Project' competitions.

This competition was established to respond to changes in the energy environment, promote technology development for new growth engines in the energy industry, and nurture innovative talents leading future energy technologies as well as convergence-type practical talents who can flexibly respond to changes in the energy industry ecosystem.

The project selected in the Energy Technology Development Project category, "Development Project for Virtual Nuclear Power Plant Dismantling Workshop and Remote Dismantling Work Training System with Force-Torque Reaction," was applied for by local company NovaTech Co., Ltd. and Ulsan City to establish a training base that ensures worker safety and optimal dismantling work training through ICT-based virtual training before nuclear power plant dismantling work.

Ulsan City expects to receive 3.8 billion KRW in national funding over three years through this project, generating an economic inducement effect of 27.6 billion KRW by 2030 and ensuring the safety of nuclear power plant dismantling workers.

Additionally, the "Smart Nuclear Power Plant Dismantling Convergence Talent Nurturing Project," selected in the Energy Workforce Training Project category, aims to cultivate master's-level advanced personnel with broad understanding of nuclear power industry technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), big data, radiation, environment, and waste.

This project is promoted in cooperation with KINGS, the only domestic international nuclear graduate school located in the Ulsan area, and Ulsan City, receiving 2.2 billion KRW in national funding over five years.

Ulsan City plans to nurture master's-level practical leader-type talents with global leadership in the nuclear power plant dismantling industry through this project.

Earlier, in February, Ulsan City launched the "Nuclear Power Plant Dismantling Industry Promotion Expert Working Group," composed of 27 experts in six fields: R&D in nuclear power plant dismantling, workforce training, corporate support, certification testing, dismantling cutting, waste, and environmental restoration.

Through this, they are striving to create an industrial ecosystem for nuclear power plant dismantling by discovering and planning joint national projects related to the dismantling industry, preparing a vision for the industry, identifying short- and long-term projects, and proposing policies to foster the dismantling industry.

Furthermore, in June last year, they presented a vision to realize the world's best nuclear power plant dismantling industry-leading city with secured safety and reliability.

By 2024, they plan to establish a foundation for the nuclear power plant dismantling industry and improve technological self-reliance, advancing technological sophistication through dismantling achievements by 2030. By 2040, they aim to enter overseas markets and achieve a 10% share of the global market.

Shim Min-ryeong, Director of the Innovation Industry Bureau, said, "We plan to develop commercialization technologies led by local companies with participation from local universities and research institutes to nurture competitive small and medium-sized enterprises." He added, "We will build infrastructure such as testing analysis centers and comprehensive corporate support centers to create an industrial ecosystem where nuclear power plant dismantling value chain companies can harmonize."