Korea Testing Laboratory Opens 'Autonomous Driving Technology Research Center' in Hwaseong

Support for Quality and Safety Improvement of Autonomous Vehicle Parts Companies
Smart Air Conditioning Technology Evaluation Center Also Opens Together

The Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL) is establishing a research center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province to support the performance and safety improvements of autonomous vehicle parts companies and has begun full-scale operations.

Hwaseong City announced on the 17th that KTL held an opening ceremony for the 'Autonomous Driving Technology Research Center and Smart HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) Evaluation Center' on the 16th at Hongik University’s 4th Industrial Revolution Campus in Gibaedong, Hwaseong. About 100 people attended the ceremony, including Jeong Myeong-geun, Mayor of Hwaseong, Kim Se-jong, Director of KTL, Kim Gyeong-hee, Chairperson of Hwaseong City Council, Kwon Chil-seung, Member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party, and Seo Jong-wook, President of Hongik University.

At the opening ceremony of the Autonomous Driving Technology Research Center and Smart HVAC Evaluation Center, Jeong Myeong-geun, Mayor of Hwaseong (first from the right), and Kwon Chil-seung, member of the Democratic Party of Korea (second from the right), are touring the main facilities of the center. [Photo by Hwaseong City]

The Autonomous Driving Technology Research Center is a project promoted through a public contest by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in June 2020 under the theme 'Establishment of an OEM Demonstration Cluster to Support Autonomous Vehicle Parts Cooperative Companies.' KTL invested 18.6 billion KRW to build a facility with a total floor area of 1,983㎡, equipped with 22 types of performance safety and functional safety verification equipment and 3 types of automotive parts reliability evaluation equipment.

The center will support autonomous vehicle parts companies in improving quality and safety and securing technological competitiveness through automotive OEM demonstration evaluation consulting at the level required by international standards.

The concurrently opened 'Smart HVAC Evaluation Center' was established with a total project cost of 18.3 billion KRW and has a total floor area of 3,479㎡. This center is equipped with seven types of environmental chambers to test smart HVAC product groups. 'Smart HVAC' refers to air quality management technologies such as heating and cooling that apply Internet of Things (IoT) or Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.

The city expects that the opening of the KTL centers will help enhance the technological competitiveness of companies in the Hwaseong area and secure future markets through industrial development.

Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun expressed his expectation, saying, "Following Hwaseong City's selection as the nation's first 'Level 4 or higher autonomous driving demonstration city,' the establishment of this KTL research center will greatly contribute to the development of Hwaseong as a high-tech enterprise city."

Meanwhile, at the opening ceremony, Hwaseong City signed a business agreement with Assemblyman Kwon Chil-seung and President Seo Jong-wook for the 'Creation of Hongik University Hwaseong 4th Industrial Revolution Campus and Future Technology Talent Development.'

Hongik University is developing the Hwaseong 4th Industrial Revolution Campus on a site of 108,690㎡ in the Gian-dong area of Hwaseong City to nurture future technology talents. The university is planning to open advanced departments and graduate programs in AI, intelligent robotics, autonomous driving mobility, and other cutting-edge fields.

Through this agreement, the institutions will jointly discover cooperative projects for nurturing future technology talents in the 4th Industrial Revolution field and develop and operate community coexistence programs such as job creation for local residents and education and lectures for Hwaseong citizens as part of regional contribution projects.

Mayor Jeong said, "The creation of the Hongik University 4th Industrial Revolution Campus is a major pledge of the 8th local government administration," adding, "We will support the establishment of the Industrial Revolution Campus through prompt permits and approvals."