IMEC, Fraunhofer and Other World-Class Innovation Institutes Collaborate on Joint R&D
R&D Dedicated Agency-KOTRA Signs MOU for Global R&D-Export Linkage Support
BMW Korea New Parts Logistics Center in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do. The largest logistics center for imported cars. (Photo by BMW Korea)
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] South Korea's materials, parts, and equipment companies have opened a path to global expansion. They have begun technological cooperation with companies such as Germany's BMW.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it will hold the 'Global Solidarity and Technology Cooperation Proclamation Ceremony' at 10 a.m. on the 1st at the EL Tower in Seoul.
The proclamation ceremony will be attended by Deputy Minister Park Jin-gyu, Jung Yang-ho, President of the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), Seok Young-cheol, President of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), research and development (R&D) dedicated organizations, KOTRA President Kwon Pyung-oh, and representatives from six R&D performing companies including BMW Korea and Seoul Robotics.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will officially promote 'Global Demand-Linked Technology Cooperation' (matching with companies such as BMW) and 'Global Innovation Institution Joint R&D' (matching with research institutions such as IMEC) starting next year. A budget of 100 billion KRW will be invested over three years until 2023.
This month, a technology cooperation demand survey for next year's project promotion will be conducted through the KEIT project management system. Full support is planned to begin in the first quarter of next year.
On the day, the ▲Global Cooperation R&D Kickoff Ceremony ▲MOU signing for R&D-export linked support between KIAT, KEIT, and KOTRA will take place.
First, 'Global Cooperation R&D' is a project that supports domestic materials and parts companies' entry into the global value chain (GVC). The event announced the start of a pilot project this year. Our companies and overseas institutions pledged to work together on the project.
R&D will be promoted in two directions. First, the cooperation model between domestic materials, parts, and equipment demand and supply companies will be expanded globally. Technology cooperation will be conducted between overseas demand companies (mainly large corporations) and our supply companies (mainly small and medium-sized materials, parts, and equipment companies).
Five global demand-linked technology cooperation pilot projects promoted this year. (Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)
Additionally, the world's top-level research institutions and our companies will conduct joint R&D. By partnering with advanced overseas research institutions, we will strategically secure core technologies needed early.
This year, seven consortia including Seoul Robotics-BMW Group (demand companies) and LMS-IMEC (research institutions) were selected. The project will officially start next year.
Seoul Robotics will develop an 'autonomous driving LiDAR perception system' over the next three years based on technological cooperation with BMW. If successful in technology development, it will be applied to BMW production plants. It is expected to generate overseas sales worth several billion KRW.
LMS will jointly develop a 'chip-type fixed sensor for autonomous vehicles' with Belgium's IMEC research institute, which possesses the world's top technology in the semiconductor field.
Export support agency KOTRA and R&D dedicated organizations KEIT and KIAT will sign a business cooperation MOU.
KOTRA will utilize its trade offices to discover technology cooperation demands between global companies and domestic materials and parts companies and link these to 'Global Cooperation R&D' for support. Support will continue until domestic R&D performing companies deliver products.
Deputy Minister Park emphasized in his congratulatory speech, "In an era where global networks are expanding and digital transformation is accelerating, the 'in-house' development method of owning all production processes is no longer sufficient to secure international competitiveness."
He added, "We will actively support technology cooperation activities between companies and research institutions by fully promoting technology cooperation with global demand companies, joint R&D projects with research institutions, and by facilitating overseas M&A and technology acquisition."
Two joint R&D pilot projects by global innovation institutions promoted this year. (Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
