'2025 Invention Day' Event Held
Principal Researcher Cha Dongun Receives Commissioner’s Commendation for 15 Outstanding Patents
On May 21, Hyundai Motor and Kia announced that they held their in-house patent competition, the '2025 Invention Day' event, at the Namyang Research Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, to discover outstanding technological ideas and encourage creative research and development activities.
At the '2025 Invention Day' event held on the 21st at Hyundai Motor and Kia's Namyang Research Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Yang Heewon, President of Hyundai Motor and Kia R&D Division (sixth from the left), and the award recipients are taking a commemorative photo. Hyundai MotorPhoto by Hyundai Motor
Now in its 16th year, this event actively supports Hyundai Motor and Kia researchers in filing new technology inventions, aiming to secure future core technologies and expand global research and development intellectual property rights. In particular, to mark the 60th anniversary of Invention Day, Kim Wanki, Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, attended the awards ceremony and presented commendations to outstanding patent applicants who have contributed to spreading the culture of invention.
The Commissioner’s Commendation was awarded to Cha Dongun, Principal Researcher at the AVP Development Strategy Office, who filed the most top-grade patents in the past ten years. Cha contributed to securing future core technologies by filing a total of 15 outstanding patents, including technologies connecting mobility and living spaces.
In addition, approximately 3,000 invention patents and projects filed internally last year were evaluated, and the following were selected: two for performance rewards, eight for outstanding patents, and two for outstanding i-LAB projects.
The performance reward system recognizes patent applicants whose registered patents, applied to Hyundai Motor and Kia products, have contributed to enhancing vehicle technology competitiveness in terms of marketability and performance. The following were selected: the forward and reverse avoidance steering control technology for the Remote Smart Parking Assist System (Seo Gilwon, Principal Researcher) and the battery cell cartridge and battery module assembly (Choi Junseok, Principal Researcher).
The avoidance steering control technology for the Remote Smart Parking Assist System enables the vehicle to control the avoidance steering angle by recognizing surrounding vehicles or obstacles, even in situations where it is difficult to enter a parking space or to exit due to obstacles. Applied to Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Genesis vehicles in 2019, this technology significantly improved the marketability and safety of remote parking systems.
The battery cell cartridge and battery module assembly technology improves the material and structure of the cartridge in hybrid systems, enhancing output performance and cooling performance compared to existing battery systems.
Furthermore, based on criteria such as patentability, technological advancement, and originality, two Grand Prizes, two Excellence Prizes, and four Encouragement Prizes were awarded for outstanding patents. The Grand Prize winners were: the integrated cooling structure for motor and inverter (Lee Gamcheon, Principal Researcher) and the precise battery health diagnosis and user display system (Lee Wooju, Principal Researcher).
To support creative research activities, Hyundai Motor and Kia operate the i-LAB incubating project, which proactively secures promising patent portfolios by connecting in-house inventors, patent managers, and specialized patent law firms. Among a total of about 150 i-LAB activities last year, two Grand Prizes were awarded: development of all-solid-state battery materials and development of autonomous driving and autonomous parking perception technologies. In particular, the 'all-solid-state battery material development' project achieved the milestone of filing a total of 52 patents.
Kim Wanki, Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, stated, "Since 2010, Hyundai Motor and Kia have commemorated Invention Day every year, actively encouraging creative research and development and patent activities, turning technology into patents and connecting them to commercialization and export success?a model case. I hope the proactive patent strategy and corporate culture demonstrated by Hyundai Motor and Kia will spread throughout our entire industry."
Yang Heewon, President of Hyundai Motor and Kia R&D Division, said, "This year's Invention Day, held together with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, demonstrates the importance and potential for advancement of the automotive industry. We will actively support our researchers so that they can continue their timely research and inventions with passion and confidence."
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