South Korea strengthens international cooperation in research for future technologies

The South Korean government would like to strengthen international cooperation in research on groundbreaking, future technologies. The three designated fields of research are self-driving vehicles, semiconductor materials and machines, and a next-generation mobile communication network called 6G. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy recently invited leading research and development institutions from both in Korea and abroad to participate in various projects. On behalf of the ministry, the Korea Institute for Advcancement of Technology (KIAT) accepted the applications at the end of September.

 

 

The ministry plans to five-fold increase international projects in the research field by 2023. Currently, international projects account for less than three percent of all government-supported projects. Therefore, the ministry will select 4 teams each for eight concrete research projects. Research will be conducted on new LEDs for displays, exposure for semiconductor production, sensors for self-driving vehicles, robot-human integration and 6G networks. The eight areas were determined after evaluating a survey of Korean industry to determine which technologies they believe will be most important in the future. The winning teams will receive prize money equivalent to $844,000 per year for three years. The Ministry will announce the winners in October 2020.

This is the first time that South Korea has called for such a competition independently of foreign governments or researchers. In the past, there have been difficulties in technology transfer when foreign government research institutions were involved, said a KIAT spokesperson. With the new approach, i.e. research areas defined by Korean industry and selected research teams, the ministry hopes to achieve concrete results for the domestic economy.

Many products imported into South Korea must be tested and certified in advance. KC certification, or Korea Certification, is primarily aimed at identifying and containing a potential risk to safety, health and the environment. The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) is responsible for KC certification in South Korea. It is part of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). The KATS establishes a legal framework for the market introduction of various consumer goods to ensure consumer safety. MPR International GmbH – Korea Certification is represented by its own subsidiaries at five locations and thus completely covers the demand for certification services for the South Korean market. We are at your disposal for any questions about Korea certifications without obligation.

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LG founds global alliance to research new materials using artificial intelligence

The global alliance will use artificial intelligence (AI) and robots to research powerful chemical compounds and innovative next-generation materials. The group, called “Alliance for AI-Accelerated Materials Discovery” (A3MD), consists of LG Group, the University of Toronto, McMaster University from Canada and the French energy giant Total SA. According to LG Science Park, the Group’s research facility, the alliance consists of the best scientists from academia and industry and is the first group in the world to conduct research on new materials using artificial intelligence.

 

 

As a founding member, LG Group plans to establish a global research network with experts in AI and materials research. Members of the group include Professors Ted Sargent and Alan-Aspuru-Guzik of the University of Toronto and Professor Drew Higgins of McMaster University. All three are high-ranking scientists in the fields of AI, computer-aided materials research and automated, robot-controlled laboratory experiments. The energy company Total, which already uses AI-supported software for data analysis, is participating as an industrial partner of the alliance.

The research alliance’s goals include the development of environmentally friendly catalysts in the chemical industry and novel optical materials. The composition and production of these materials is to be accelerated by artificial intelligence and automated tests. For example, ethylene and other petrochemical base compounds could be extracted from atmospheric carbon dioxide. For this purpose, the group is researching catalysts that make such a chemical reaction possible.

South Korea is considered one of the most important and innovative industrial nations in the world. To gain market access to this highly technological country, many products imported into South Korea must be tested and certified. The KC-Mark or KC-certificate corresponds approximately to the European CE-mark and applies to 730 different products. MPR International GmbH – Korea Certification is represented by its own subsidiaries at five locations and thus completely covers the demand for certification services for the South Korean market. Our experts are available to you at any time and without obligation to answer your questions regarding a Korea certification.

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LG Uplus plans introduction of autonomous robot next year

LG Uplus Corporation, a leading South Korean mobile operator, said last Friday it plans to launch a self-operating industrial robot with 5G connectivity next year. The robot, which was developed in cooperation with Unmanned Solution, a company specializing in autonomous driving, recently demonstrated its capabilities within a refinery. The refinery belongs to Hyundai Oilbank and is located in Seosan, 150 km south of the capital Seoul. According to LG Uplus, during the demonstration the robot was able to move within an accuracy of 10 centimeters and performed routine tasks such as measuring and reading temperatures of the plant equipment.

 

 

The robot, which is manufactured by Unmanned Solutions, can calculate its location and movement by using position data from the high-speed 5G wireless network. It benefits from the extremely short latency of the 5G network. A spokesman for LG Uplus said that this autonomous robot will be part of the basic equipment of a refinery in the future. The spokesman added that a robot is preferable to human workers, particularly from a safety perspective. LG Uplus plans to complete the test operation by the end of this year and bring the robot to market next year.

LG Uplus Corp. is a South Korean mobile phone provider owned by LG Corporation and parent company of LG Electronics. In addition to mobile communication, LG Uplus offers further services through subsidiaries: BankOn is the most popular mobile banking service in South Korea, MusicOn is a music streaming service. LG Uplus has its own infrastructure as well as landline telephone network, broadband internet with fiber optics and television over the internet (IPTV). Electronic devices and systems for mobile communication must undergo certification in Korea. Among others, there is the KC certification for consumer products and especially electronics as well as the KC EMC certification for electronic products. MPR International GmbH – Korea Certification is represented by its own subsidiaries at five locations and thus completely covers the demand for certification services for the South Korean market. We offer certification services for all product areas. We have developed special expertise in the automotive, electrical, mechanical engineering, telecommunications and IT sectors. Our experts are always available to answer your questions without obligation.

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Korean battery manufacturers showed mixed reactions to Tesla’s new product

The three largest Korean battery manufacturers, which have a global market share of 30 percent in automotive batteries, are uncertain about Tesla’s new product launch, but at the same time have particular expectations of the new technology. The core of Tesla’s new technology is the “Roadrunner Project”, a blueprint for battery manufacturing. At Battery Day, industry experts saw a presentation of the current status of the project, which aims to reduce manufacturing costs and increase energy density and durability. Tesla also gave an outlook on future production processes for automotive batteries. The greatest strength of Tesla, the world’s number 1 in electric vehicles, is the vertical integration of semiconductors, electronic control systems and vehicle components used in electric vehicles.

 

 

Despite all the euphoria, Tesla is currently dependent on external suppliers for vehicle batteries. The possibility of an in-house production of solid state batteries at Tesla gained substance after taking over Maxwell, a battery manufacturer. However, analysts do not yet see Tesla’s own batteries ready for series production due to technical challenges. Experts therefore speculate that Tesla is working on a new technology for lithium ion phosphate (LFP) batteries in cooperation with the Chinese battery manufacturer CATL.

Although the three largest Korean battery manufacturers are concerned about Tesla’s entry into the automotive battery market, it is also hoped that this will have positive effects in terms of a growing market and increasing acceptance of electric vehicles. A spokesman for Korean industry said: “Tesla has triggered a boom for electric vehicles and their entry into the battery business will also bring benefits to Korean companies. Competition will boost the market and bring new technologies to market faster”. An industry insider also urged prudence: “Even though Tesla will introduce innovative technologies, it will still be difficult to compete with the decades of development work and experience of specialized battery manufacturers.” The South Korean companies LG Chem, SK Innovation and Samsung SDI are among the leading battery manufacturers and have a global market share of 30 percent.

Components of electric vehicles, which include batteries, must undergo certification in Korea. The KC mark or KC certificate is roughly equivalent to the European CE mark and applies to 730 different products, such as cars, elevators and many electronic products. MPR International GmbH – Korea Certification is represented by its own subsidiaries at five locations and thus completely covers the demand for certification services for the South Korean market. We offer certification services for all product areas. We have developed special expertise in the automotive, electrical, mechanical engineering, telecommunications and IT sectors. Our experts are always available to answer your questions without obligation.

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LG Chem invests in battery joint venture with GM

The South Korean company LG Chem has started investing in a joint venture with GM for the production of battery cells for vehicles. Around 35 million US dollars flowed from LG Chem into the Ultium Cells joint venture in April 2020. In December 2019, LG Chem and GM had already announced that they would invest a total of the equivalent of 2.24 billion US dollars in the new company. According to LG, their share, which they will pay over the four years to 2023, is the equivalent of 831 million US dollars.

 

 

With the start of production at Ultium Cells, LG Chem will secure two production sites in the United States. The capacity of the plant in Holland in the US state of Michigan will be 5 GWh per year. According to the company, the total output of Ultium Cells will be 30 GWh per year. The company also plans to establish or expand other locations in Asia and Europe. Another joint venture is planned with the Chinese car manufacturer Geely. This site is to be completed by the end of 2021 and will have a capacity of 10 GWh. The existing plant in Wroclaw, Poland, will be expanded and its annual production capacity increased to 60 GWh.

Based on these plans, LG Chem’s production capacity for batteries for electric vehicles will grow to 200 GWh by 2023. This would mean that 3.3 million electric vehicles with a range of 380 kilometers could be charged once. Do you need Korea certification for automotive components?

MPR International GmbH has already successfully accompanied many large automotive suppliers and vehicle manufacturers in their certification projects for Asian markets and has been supporting many companies for several years. No matter if you are in the early stages of your planning or if you have already passed a certification and now new projects or follow-up audits are pending. When choosing MPR International GmbH you can rely on the greatest competence in the automotive sector.

If you need assistance or have any questions, feel free to contact us any time.
Tel.: +49-69-2713769259
Email: info@korea-certification.com

Urgent questions?
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For more information you can download our free brochure “Korea Certification Made Easy – The Booklet“.