LG Chem Hosts 'Global Innovation Contest'

This Year’s Four Grand Prizes Including Energy and Future Materials with New Categories for Sustainability and DX

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoonju Hwang] LG Chem is seeking sustainable innovative technologies worldwide to secure future growth engines.

On the 19th, LG Chem announced that it will hold the '3rd Global Innovation Contest (GIC)' targeting leading universities and research institutions at home and abroad.

From February 25 to March 31, innovative technology ideas will be accepted in four fields: Energy, Sustainability, Advanced Material, and DX (Digital Transformation).

The Global Innovation Contest is a technology competition conducted by LG Chem, the first in the domestic chemical industry, targeting the entire world to discover outstanding innovative technologies. This year, in line with the vision of "Connecting science to human life for a better future," new fields of Sustainability and DX necessary for future growth have been added.

Looking at the themes for each field, the Energy field focuses on next-generation cathode materials and solid electrolytes that dramatically improve the performance, lifespan, and safety of batteries for electric vehicles and e-mobility.

The Sustainability field covers White Bio, which develops eco-friendly plastics using biological resources such as plants as raw materials, Recycling including post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics, energy saving, waste reduction, and carbon emission reduction.

Additionally, cutting-edge life science technologies such as protein engineering, which artificially modifies proteins to have superior functions, and new drug discovery are also being solicited.

The Advanced Material field includes super insulation materials such as aerogels, which are gaining attention as advanced insulation materials for satellites and automobiles; disposable gloves made of highly elastic biodegradable plastic materials; thermosetting materials that are heat-resistant, hard yet lightweight and used for automotive lightweight materials; and next-generation plastic processes and design.

Finally, the Digital Transformation (DX) field is seeking ideas on laboratory automation that automatically analyzes experimental data using artificial intelligence (AI).

Applicants can also propose ideas in fields requiring innovative solutions beyond the recruitment categories. Scholars and researchers at home and abroad interested in next-generation innovative technology development and industry-academia cooperation research outcomes can participate by submitting technical proposals through the contest’s official website.

LG Chem plans to form internal experts and a selection committee to focus on selecting research projects that align with the mid- to long-term strategies of each business division and can create practical synergies. The final projects will be selected through proposal evaluations considering the innovativeness and commercialization potential of the technologies. The selected projects will be individually notified by July.

Universities and research institutions selected as final projects will receive up to $150,000 annually, the largest research and development funding among domestic chemical companies, during the research period, along with opportunities for technology exchange and researcher dispatch from LG Chem to facilitate effective project progress.

Meanwhile, LG Chem is also conducting a research project contest for newly appointed professors at domestic universities. From February 1 to March 31, innovative technologies related to LG Chem’s business areas will be accepted, and selected professors will receive up to 80 million KRW annually for research and development.