Korea, Germany to open R&D center for industrial supply chains

Industry

Published: 18 Sep. 2023, 18:44

Korea, Germany to open R&D center for industrial supply chains

Representatives from the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and an economic delegation from the German state of Saxony pose for a photo during a signing ceremony held in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Monday. [KEIT]

Korea and Germany will set up a cooperation center for joint research and development (R&D) for industrial supply chains.

The Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) and Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies (IKTS) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the technology cooperation center at the IKTS headquarters in Dresden, Saxony, in eastern Germany.

The center will identify collaborative needs in both countries' advanced industries to plan joint R&D projects, connect institutes and companies to promote cooperation in technology development and help smaller companies in Korea enter the European market.

“We plan to expand support in joint international R&D programs where universities, research institutes and global companies with advanced technological capabilities can work together through the upcoming cooperation center in Saxony,” said Chun Yoon-jong, KEIT chairman and president.

“We will support R&D activities at an accelerated pace with the goal of gaining self-sufficiency in core items in the global supply chain for advanced and flagship industries,” stressed Chun.

The MOU signing ceremony was held in central Seoul on Monday, followed by a forum on Korea-Germany technology cooperation.

An economic delegation from the state of Saxony attended the forum, where researchers and industry figures from both countries shared the latest information in the automotive sector.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]