Established 12 New Research Organizations to Strengthen SoBuJang

Ministry of Science and ICT Launches New Organization for Nano and Materials Technology Development Project

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 2nd that 12 new research organizations, including 8 National Core Materials Research Groups and 4 Future Technology Research Labs, will be newly launched to carry out new projects for the 2021 Nano and Materials Technology Development Project.

The Nano and Materials Technology Development Project is being promoted to support the so-called SoBuJang policy aimed at strengthening competitiveness in materials, parts, and equipment sectors of key industries such as semiconductors. It supports securing world-class original technologies that will lead the advancement of core industries and the creation of new markets and new industries in the future.

From this year, the government is providing support by dividing the project into the 'National Core Materials Research Groups' for self-reliance of 185 major R&D core items and the 'Future Technology Research Labs' in the materials field for securing 65 future leading items and other future advanced materials.

In particular, among these, the 'Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ultra-Low Platinum Catalyst Research Group' focuses on minimizing the amount of platinum used as a catalyst in hydrogen fuel cells while simultaneously searching for alternative materials. Platinum is expensive at about 70,000 KRW per gram due to its rarity and supply instability, and typically, the catalyst price accounts for 45% of the total fuel cell price. The research group aims to reduce the amount of platinum used in the catalyst to one-tenth of the conventional commercial method while developing new catalyst materials with ultra-high activity and high durability of the same performance (securing original technology). The group also is developing large-area technology for membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) over 100 cm² (10×10) applying the new catalyst for technology commercialization as the next step after securing core technology in the laboratory. After developing the new catalyst materials, support will be provided to develop optimal mass production techniques together with companies.

The Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "This is expected to provide a breakthrough in the domestic fuel cell catalyst market, which is highly dependent on imports, and contribute to enhancing competitiveness in promising fields such as future vehicles that require fuel cells." The research group also supports research on silicon anode materials for secondary batteries and biomass-based bioplastic materials for transportation equipment.

The Future Technology Research Labs will proactively create and secure supply chains in promising future material fields, focusing on future advanced materials including 65 future leading items. They plan to focus on applying R&D support methods to solve technological challenges by organizing and utilizing a group of survey and planning experts centered on the Korea Institute of Materials Science (Materials Innovation Leading Headquarters).

A total of 72 billion KRW will be supported over five years for the 12 research groups and labs. Plans include close support for R&D processes such as regular exchange meetings and discussions, patent strategy establishment and execution, surveys and connections with technology-demanding companies, and industry-academia-research cooperation. The 8 National Core Materials Research Groups will receive 54 billion KRW over five years (6.75 billion KRW per group), and the 4 Future Technology Research Labs will receive 18 billion KRW over five years (4.5 billion KRW per lab).

Lee Chang-yoon, Director of Basic and Original Research Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "SoBuJang, which has produced tangible results such as actual technological self-reliance, requires continuous support going forward," and added, "We will continue to support self-reliance in basic and original technologies for core items through the National Core Materials Research Groups and strengthen preemptive investment to secure future advanced materials such as future leading items by expanding the Future Technology Research Labs.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.