Korea-UK Collaborate to Innovate Regulations for Next-Generation Marine Mobility Technology

Ministry of SMEs and Startups Holds 'Korea-UK International Joint R&D Roundtable on Eco-friendly Ships' in Birmingham

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that on the 31st, it held the 'Korea-UK International Joint R&D Roundtable' event in Birmingham, UK, to strengthen the technological competitiveness of eco-friendly ships and core equipment in the Busan Next-Generation Marine Mobility Global Innovation Special Zone.

Global Innovation Special Zones are innovation clusters that promote deregulation, international joint research and development (R&D), domestic and overseas demonstrations, and overseas certifications to foster regional innovation projects or strategic industries using new technologies. Four zones, including Busan, Gangwon, Jeonnam, and Chungbuk, were first designated in April this year. The Busan Special Zone (Next-Generation Marine Mobility) is pursuing key projects such as eco-friendly ship technology using eco-friendly fuels like ammonia and demonstration of green shipping routes.

This roundtable was organized to match overseas joint R&D partners and specify projects related to relevant technologies, with participation from key personnel of the University of Strathclyde in the UK, European shipbuilding and marine experts, and companies in the special zone. In particular, a large number of shipbuilding and marine experts active in Europe, including Jeong Byeong-wook, president of the Europe-Korea Marine Experts Association (EKMOA), participated to share trends in eco-friendly ship technologies and discuss demonstration-related matters.

Notably, the participation of researchers from the University of Strathclyde, ranked first in the UK and seventh globally in the field of naval architecture and marine engineering, is expected to contribute to establishing an international joint R&D partnership with the Busan Next-Generation Marine Mobility Global Innovation Special Zone.

Kim Hong-ju, head of the Special Zone Innovation Planning Division at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, “Deregulation and cooperation with the international community are essential to achieve economic outcomes through technological innovation.” He added, “The experience and knowledge gained through Korea-UK technological and institutional cooperation will play a key role in realistically and efficiently improving the domestic regulatory environment, and such deregulation will facilitate the demonstration and commercialization of new technologies, accelerating the pace of technological innovation.”