Changwon National University to Establish 'SMR Manufacturing Support Center' in Changwon National Industrial Complex

Selection of Joint Research Institutes for MOTIE Projects

The Mechatronics Research Institute at Changwon National University has been tasked with leading the establishment of a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Manufacturing Support Center by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

According to the university, the SMR Manufacturing Support Center project aims to strengthen the manufacturing capabilities of small and medium-sized nuclear power companies and support the adoption of advanced manufacturing process technologies.

The purpose is to proactively respond to the era of global SMR commercialization, which the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) projects to reach $350 billion by 2050, and to establish the core foundation for Korea to become a nuclear powerhouse.

Director Hong Daeseon (left) of the Mechatronics Research Institute at Changwon National University and Deputy Director Seolsangseok of the Mechatronics Research Center stand side by side. [Photo by Changwon National University]

The main institution overseeing the project is Gyeongnam Technopark, with Changwon National University, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Korea Conformity Laboratories, and Gyeongsang National University participating as joint research institutions.

Fifty demand companies, including Doosan Enerbility, will form an industry-academia-research network related to SMR, while Gyeongnam Province and Changwon City will provide budgetary and administrative support, local funding matching, and site provision.

Over the next five years, a total project budget of 32.3 billion KRW?including 10 billion KRW in national funds and 22.3 billion KRW in local funds?will be invested to establish a 5,800-square-meter SMR robot-assisted manufacturing support center in the expanded area of the Changwon National Industrial Complex.

Through this, they plan to develop technologies and processes to dramatically shorten the manufacturing time of major SMR equipment and establish a base to nurture globally competitive small and medium-sized enterprises in the SMR field.

Small Modular Reactor (SMR). [Provided by Changwon National University]

After its establishment, the center will support small and medium-sized enterprises by providing: ▲SMR main equipment manufacturing facilities that are difficult to secure individually ▲robot-assisted automation technology and process development to shorten production periods ▲prototype production support ▲process R&D support, as well as the development of automated processes and training of professionals to address workforce shortages in manufacturing.

Seol Sangseok, Deputy Director of the Mechatronics Research Center and chief research manager at Changwon National University, stated, "Starting with the robot-assisted SMR Manufacturing Support Center, we will establish a support system for the entire SMR production cycle so that Changwon nuclear power companies can secure a foothold in the rapidly expanding SMR market expected from 2030. We will contribute to the creation of a global SMR cluster in Changwon and Gyeongnam."

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