Gyeongsang National University "Development of Core Technology for Short-Haul City Shuttle Passenger Aircraft"

'Regional Innovation Mega Project Hydrogen

Fuel Cell Community Project Group' Launch Ceremony

Gyeongsang National University announced on the 17th that it held the launch ceremony of the ‘Regional Innovation Mega Project Hydrogen Fuel Cell Commuter Aircraft Project Group’ in the large lecture hall on the first floor of the Aerospace Industry-Academic Cooperation Building at the Gajwa Campus.

Gyeongsang National University was finally selected for the pilot project of the ‘Advanced Mobility’ regional innovation mega project, hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and supported by the Research & Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation.

The Regional Innovation Mega Project is a project that fosters the region’s autonomous scientific and technological innovation capabilities by discovering major regional science and technology issues led by the region and developing core source technologies linked to regional strategic industries.

Group photo of the Gyeongsang National University Regional Innovation Mega Project Team inauguration ceremony.

The launch ceremony was attended by about 60 people, including Gyeongsang National University President Kwon Soon-ki, university officials, Yoo Jin-hyuk, head of the Busan Research and Development Special Zone at the Research & Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation, Shin Dae-ho, head of the western region headquarters of Gyeongsangnam-do, Song Yeon-ju, director of the main industry department of Ulsan Metropolitan City, and representatives from participating companies such as Korea Aerospace Industries and Hanwha Aerospace.

The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Commuter Aircraft Project Group is led by Gyeongsang National University and includes UNIST, Ulsan University, Gyeongnam National University, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Korea Aerospace Industries, Hanwha Aerospace, Gyeongnam Technopark Aerospace Headquarters, Samhyun, and SW Innovation.

The project group aims to develop core technologies for a commuter aircraft (a 19-seat short-distance round-trip passenger aircraft) using a hybrid distributed electric propulsion system based on eco-friendly hydrogen fuel cells through ultra-wide cooperation between the Gyeongnam and Ulsan regions, which have differentiated core competencies in the aviation and hydrogen sectors.

The selected project plans to invest a total of 8.557 billion KRW over three years from 2023 to 2025 at the pilot level, including 5.5 billion KRW from the national treasury, 2.2 billion KRW from local government support funds, and 857 million KRW from institutional contributions.

After the pilot project ends, follow-up support measures will be prepared and phased evaluations conducted to receive additional follow-up project support for up to 10 years.

The detailed main research topics of the project group’s pilot project include core technologies for a 19-seat commuter aircraft based on hydrogen fuel cells, such as △ aviation liquefied hydrogen storage tanks and hydrogen fuel cell hybrid power systems △ distributed electric propulsion systems considering hydrogen fuel cell hybrid power sources △ low-carbon, low-noise, high-performance short-distance takeoff and landing commuter aircraft design.

In the follow-up project, ground test evaluations of core technologies, production and test evaluation of a scaled-down demonstration model of the commuter aircraft will be promoted.

The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Commuter Aircraft Project Group envisions leading the development of core technologies for eco-friendly aviation mobility by combining the core competencies of the Gyeongnam region, the largest aviation industry cluster, and the Ulsan region, the mecca of the hydrogen industry ecosystem, and spreading research achievements to achieve regional scientific and technological innovation and establish a regional economic innovation ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Gyeongsang National University’s goal for this project group is to secure new growth engines for regional innovation and preoccupy the future global market for eco-friendly aviation mobility by developing world-class core technologies for hydrogen fuel cell commuter aircraft through the Regional Innovation Mega Project.

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