Future Mobility Innovation Company Technology Finance Support Platform Establishment Agreement Signed
Supporting Regional Innovation Companies in the Future Car Sector
[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] The Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATRI) is set to accelerate the establishment of infrastructure for the transition to an eco-friendly future car industry ecosystem. On the 16th, KATRI announced that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for the 'Future Car Transition Comprehensive Support Center' at the Changwon National Industrial Complex in Seongsan-gu, Changwon City, Gyeongsangnam-do, together with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, and Changwon City.
The Future Car Transition Comprehensive Support Center will be constructed on a 27,000㎡ site within the Changwon National Industrial Complex, with a total floor area of 2,953㎡ and five above-ground floors, scheduled for completion in March next year. The center will house KATRI’s Hydrogen Mobility Research Division, Hyundai Motor Company, and 10 other hydrogen-related research institutions and companies, promoting joint technological research.
KATRI’s Hydrogen Division, supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, is conducting various hydrogen mobility research projects including the development of next-generation fuel cell system technology for hydrogen electric vehicles, development of durability verification technology for hydrogen storage and driving device components based on hydrogen taxi demonstration, securing durability technology for fuel cell stacks for large commercial vehicles, and demonstration of hydrogen bus charging stations.
After completion, the Future Car Transition Comprehensive Support Center plans to accelerate the transition of the future car industry by domesticating and advancing core technologies using hydrogen, the key energy source for future car transition and carbon neutrality, centered on KATRI’s Hydrogen Division.
Heo Nam-yong, President of KATRI, emphasized, "Today’s groundbreaking of the Future Car Transition Comprehensive Support Center will be the starting point for a great transformation toward a hydrogen powerhouse, South Korea," adding, "We will devote all our efforts to enabling South Korea to leap forward as the number one country in future car competitiveness through effective support for building an eco-friendly future car ecosystem centered on the Hydrogen Division."
Meanwhile, on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony, KATRI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a 'Future Mobility Innovative Enterprise Technology Finance Support Platform' with 12 institutions including research and financial organizations. Through this agreement, KATRI plans to support regional innovative companies aiming to foster new industries in the future mobility sector in the Gyeongnam region and to nurture eco-friendly materials, parts, and equipment industries to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
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