Pohang City Opens Korea's First CRYO-ET Facility, Aiming to Become a Hub for Advanced Bio Research

Membrane Protein Research Institute Opens Cryogenic Plasma Focused Ion Beam Facility for Advanced Infrastructure
Establishing Innovative Testing and Research Infrastructure in the Bio Sector
Leading the Region's "Bio Transformation"

On September 12, Pohang City held an opening ceremony for the country's first Cryogenic Plasma Focused Ion Beam (CRYO-ET) equipment facility at the Membrane Protein Research Institute.

Pohang City held an opening ceremony for the country's first "Cryogenic Plasma Focused Ion Beam (CRYO-ET)" equipment at the Membrane Protein Research Institute on the 12th. Photo by Pohang City

With the introduction of this equipment, Pohang plans to further strengthen its research and development foundation for advanced high value-added bio industries and promote joint research involving both businesses and academia.

The ceremony was attended by Pohang City officials, as well as key figures including professors from domestic and international universities and research institutes, and business representatives, who gathered to celebrate the official launch of the facility.

CRYO-ET is a device that generates and controls a focused ion beam using plasma in an ultra-low temperature environment, enabling precise processing and analysis at cryogenic conditions that surpass the limitations of existing equipment.

In particular, it excels at handling bio samples that are sensitive to heat and electricity without causing damage, and at securing microstructures at the single-layer level. This is expected to lead to groundbreaking research outcomes, such as the analysis of microstructures in new materials and minimizing damage to sensitive bio samples.

The city plans to leverage this equipment to operate corporate technology support, joint research, and workforce training programs, further enhancing the competitiveness of local industries.

Mayor Lee Kangdeok stated, "Pohang is the only local government in Korea to possess all of the following: CRYO-EM, CRYO-ET microscopes, and third- and fourth-generation synchrotron accelerators. Through our differentiated bio infrastructure, we will lead Korea's bio transformation and, by fostering cooperation among the local government, universities, and businesses, actively support the development and industrialization of new technologies so that Pohang can emerge as a world-class research hub."