UNIST and University of Sheffield Joint Technology Development & Workforce Training
Video Conference Held on the Afternoon of the 23rd for Business Agreement
Agreed to Jointly Develop Leading Technologies for Future Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioni
On the afternoon of the 23rd, an international cooperation agreement event was held between UNIST and the University of Sheffield in the UK.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has embarked on international cooperation to lead future nuclear power plant decommissioning technology. They have taken the first step by partnering with the University of Sheffield in the UK, which has experience in nuclear decommissioning and world-class technology.
UNIST and the University of Sheffield held an "International Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony" at 5 p.m. on the 23rd at the 5th Engineering Building on the Ulsan campus.
During the event, which was conducted via video conference, attendees signed the MOU and discussed plans for joint research cooperation to develop nuclear decommissioning technologies.
Through this agreement, the two universities will engage in joint research on nuclear decommissioning and initiatives to train research personnel.
They plan to foster specialized personnel through active exchange of research staff and operation of educational programs, and to identify joint research projects in advanced manufacturing fields including nuclear decommissioning. To this end, they will also promote the shared use of research equipment, facilities, and other infrastructure and resources.
The UNIST Nuclear Decommissioning Convergence Technology Research Center (Director Kim Hee-ryeong) will take a central role in this cooperation, leading the development of core nuclear decommissioning technologies and talent cultivation.
The center is developing technologies such as "nuclear decommissioning radiation monitoring technology," "decommissioning radiation safety evaluation technology," and "decommissioning radioactive waste treatment technology" with support from the government and Ulsan City.
Director Kim Hee-ryeong said, "Korea is approaching the first decommissioning of commercial nuclear reactors such as Kori Unit 1, and cooperation with experienced countries in decommissioning is necessary to carry out decontamination, dismantling, cutting, waste treatment, and site restoration."
Director Kim emphasized, "If we accumulate and advance technologies for each process, we can foster nuclear decommissioning technology as a future core industry of Korea and enter the global market."
The University of Sheffield leads advanced technology research and development in various fields through the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), the largest commercialization research institute in the UK.
In the nuclear decommissioning field, they have advanced experience not only in technology development but also in building supply chains through collaboration with global companies.
UNIST President Lee Yong-hoon said, "We are pleased to establish a mutual cooperative relationship with the University of Sheffield, which has abundant experience in nuclear decommissioning," adding, "We hope that cooperation in technology development for future nuclear decommissioning will lay the foundation for securing domestic and global nuclear decommissioning industrial technologies."
On the afternoon of the 23rd, an international cooperation agreement event between UNIST and the University of Sheffield in the UK was held via online video conference.
Koen Lamberts, President of the University of Sheffield, said, "I think this is a great opportunity to secure core technologies early and link them to industry through joint research with UNIST, which has excellent research capabilities across manufacturing fields including nuclear decommissioning," adding, "We can share the nuclear decommissioning experience from the Shellafield area in the UK with Korea and contribute to nurturing global-level specialized personnel through student and research staff exchanges."
Attendees at the signing ceremony included UNIST President Lee Yong-hoon, Distinguished Professor Hwang Il-soon, Dean of Academic Affairs Kim Ji-hyun, Head of the Department of Nuclear Engineering Bang In-cheol, Professors Park Jae-young, Min Byung-joo, Ahn Sang-jun, Yoon Ui-sung, Lee Seung-jun, Director of the Nuclear Decommissioning Convergence Technology Research Center Kim Hee-ryeong, Ulsan Metropolitan City officials Lee Heum-yong and Kim Sung-wook, AMRC KOREA Director Lee Jeong-hwan, Advisory Director Gong Chang-deok, Team Leader Kim Soo-hee, and Manager Park Ki-ryung.
From the University of Sheffield, President Koen Lamberts, Vice President Dave Petley, Professor Neil Hayatt, and Director of International Cooperation Katja Nieminen participated in the ceremony from the UK.
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