Jinju City and LDRA Sign MOU to Establish Aerospace Industry Certification Ecosystem

Fostering Specialized Talent in Aerospace
Collaboration for Certification Support
Laying the Foundation for Overseas Expansion

Jinju City in South Gyeongsang Province is joining forces with the UK-based global software certification specialist LDRA (Liverpool Data Research Associates) to strengthen the global competitiveness of its aerospace industry.

On May 20, the city announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with LDRA for "Establishing a Certification Ecosystem for the Aerospace Industry" at the Entrepreneurs' Room on the 5th floor of City Hall.

This agreement is part of Jinju City's ongoing efforts to revitalize the aerospace industry. It is a strategic measure to promote local companies' independence in certification and support their entry into overseas markets by collaborating with LDRA, which possesses world-class software verification and certification capabilities in the aviation, aerospace, and defense sectors.

Group photo of Jinju City and global software certification company LDRA signing a business agreement.

The signing ceremony was attended by Mayor Cho Kyu-il and Ian Jon Hennell, CEO of LDRA. After the agreement was signed, both parties discussed ways to collaborate in the aerospace sector.

Under the agreement, Jinju City and LDRA plan to cooperate in various areas, including: support for software and hardware verification and certification for aerospace applications; training of specialized personnel and job creation; technical consulting through FAA Designated Engineering Representatives (DER); support for domestic and international market development and commercialization; and advisory support for establishing an aerospace cluster centered on Jinju City.

Since its founding in 1975, LDRA has participated in numerous global projects with companies such as Boeing, Airbus, and NASA. In Korea, the company has been actively involved by supplying its software verification solutions for projects such as the development of the KF-21 fighter jet.

Notably, the Gyeongnam branch of MoaSoft Co., LDRA's official partner in Korea, is located in the Gyeongnam Jinju Innovation City Complex Innovation Center. This agreement is therefore expected to further expand technology cooperation centered on the region.

Mayor Cho Kyu-il stated, "This agreement with LDRA, a world-class certification company, will be an important turning point for Jinju to become a global aerospace city. Through this collaboration, we aim to enhance the technological competitiveness of local companies and build an industrial ecosystem equipped with certification infrastructure."

Meanwhile, Jinju City plans to use this agreement as an opportunity to establish a comprehensive industrial ecosystem for the aerospace sector?including certification, testing, and technical consulting?to further solidify its status as an aerospace city.