BISTEP and Civic Groups Join Forces for Local R&D Fieldwork

First “Local R&D Field Empathy Tour” Held

Busan Institute for Science and Technology Promotion (BISTEP, Director Kim Young-bu) announced that on the 25th, it successfully held the first “Local R&D Field Empathy Tour with Civic Groups” of the year at the Hydrogen Ship Technology Center of Pusan National University, located in the Busan Port Uam Pier Marine Industry Cluster.

This event was promoted with the purpose of forming a consensus with local community members on the necessity of regional R&D, exchanging research and development information with university research facilities and research institutions located in the region, and establishing a cooperative network.

Starting with this tour, monthly tours will be conducted targeting research institutions located in Busan together with civic groups to build public consensus on the impact of R&D on regional industrial innovation.

During the tour of the Pusan National University Hydrogen Ship Technology Center, BISTEP Director Kim Young-bu and staff, along with members of civic groups such as YWCA and YMCA, listened to an introduction of the Hydrogen Ship Technology Center and explanations of ongoing R&D projects. They discussed the ripple effects of these projects on the local industry and cooperation plans for planning and attracting future follow-up R&D projects. Afterwards, the group toured the testing building’s core facilities for developing eco-friendly ships based on hydrogen fuel, experiencing the innovation site of the future marine industry.

Center Director Lee Jae-myung stated, “The Hydrogen Ship Technology Center not only leads research aimed at advancing Busan’s shipbuilding and marine industry with eco-friendly ship technology but also supports commercialization and standardization activities of private companies,” adding, “We regard it as a historic mission to continue the immortal brand of being the world’s strongest shipbuilding and marine technology powerhouse into the future market as the strongest brand in eco-friendly hydrogen ship technology, thereby contributing to regional science, technology, and economic development.”

Won Jun-hee, head of BISTEP’s Convergence Planning T/F Team, said, “This empathy tour was an important opportunity to enhance public understanding of the impact of science and technology-based R&D on local communities and economic development,” and added, “The research and technological development at the Hydrogen Ship Technology Center are expected to be a key driving force illuminating the future of Busan’s shipbuilding and marine industry.”

The Hydrogen Ship Technology Center is the nation’s first specialized research institution dedicated to eco-friendly hydrogen ship R&D. It conducts research on hydrogen fuel cell-based ship development, hydrogen ship safety standards development, and performance evaluation of hydrogen fuel supply systems, while building technological infrastructure for the commercialization of hydrogen ships.