'2021 UAM International Conference' Held in Jinju

Simultaneous Online Live Streaming... A Platform for Sharing Advanced UAM Technologies Domestically and Internationally

International Conference Held
[Image Source=Jinju-si]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Jinju City, Gyeongnam Province, announced on the 2nd that it held the ‘2021 Urban Air Mobility (UAM) International Conference’ at the Gyeongsang National University Convention Center, co-hosted by Gyeongnam Province, Jinju City, Sacheon City, and Goseong County, and organized by Gyeongnam Technopark.

Now in its 6th year, the conference has been held annually in Jinju since 2016 as a linked event to the ‘International PAV (Personal Air Vehicle) Technology Competition’ held over two days from October 30 to 31 this year.

The UAM (Urban Air Mobility) industry is a future growth industry that integrates advanced technologies and is gaining attention as a solution to urban transportation problems.

Since 2010, Gyeongnam Province has contributed to expanding the base of the UAM and PAV industries and promoting related technology development by hosting the country’s only PAV technology competition and, since 2016, holding an international conference alongside it.

At this year’s conference, Eric Allison, Chief of Joby Aviation, a leading UAM company, delivered the keynote speech together with the Future Drone Transportation Officer from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Following this, experts from companies and institutions gathered wisdom by presenting UAM-related policy trends, prospects, and challenges, creating a venue to share advanced UAM technologies both domestically and internationally.

Although about 300 people attended the event annually, since last year, attendance has been strictly limited considering the COVID-19 situation, with online live streaming conducted simultaneously.

In particular, supported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Hanwha Systems Co., Ltd., and Gyeongsang National University, the event exhibited not only the aircraft awarded at the PAV technology competition but also excellent domestic and international aircraft, providing a more diverse and rich viewing experience.

In June last year, the government announced the ‘Korean Urban Air Mobility (K-UAM) Roadmap’ and is focusing on technology development and institutional improvements aiming for UAM commercialization by 2025. Accordingly, Jinju City is also concentrating administrative efforts on establishing a foundation for nurturing the UAM industry.

Jinju City, together with Gyeongnam Province, Sacheon City, and Goseong County, was selected in May for the drone demonstration city construction project led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and is conducting projects such as pioneering UAM routes between Jinju and Goseong.

Additionally, the attraction of the KAI rotary-wing flight center to the Gasan General Industrial Complex in Jinju has been confirmed, and it is planned to develop it into a UAM manufacturing and research complex through the agglomeration of related institutions and companies in the future.

Jinju Mayor Cho Gyu-il said, “Although the aviation industry is facing difficulties due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, I hope that gathering experts’ wisdom at the conference and sharing advanced UAM technologies and industry trends at home and abroad will serve as an opportunity for the Gyeongnam aviation industry to take a leap forward.”

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