Pohang’s Graphene Square Confirmed as "Advanced Technology" by Ministry, Accelerates Commercialization

CVD Graphene Application Technology Certified as "Advanced Technology" under the Industrial Development Act

The city of Pohang announced that the "CVD Graphene Roll-to-Roll Continuous Production and Heating Product Application Technology" developed by the local company Graphene Square has been designated as "advanced technology" under the Industrial Development Act by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The Ministry selects and notifies the scope of advanced technologies and advanced products by considering the contribution to industrial structure advancement, the creation of new demand and added value, and the inter-industry linkage effects, focusing on technologies and products with a high degree of technological intensity and rapid innovation speed, in line with its mid- to long-term industrial development outlook.

Once a technology or product is designated as advanced, it becomes eligible for various forms of support, including protection as industrial technology under the Industrial Technology Protection Act, corporate tax reductions for companies located in R&D special zones, cash support for foreign investment, and the issuance of E7 visas for foreign professionals expected to work in advanced technology fields.

The advanced technology confirmed for Graphene Square by the Ministry falls under "carbon-nano convergence sector - mass and large-area manufacturing technology for nanoplate materials." The ministry's official recognition of this technology as advanced is seen as a significant achievement in the industry, as it provides institutional protection for graphene technology, which has long been requested by the sector.

This accomplishment is particularly influential for the local industry. Pohang is expanding its efforts to have graphene designated as a national advanced strategic technology, while actively laying the groundwork to strengthen industrial competitiveness.

If graphene is designated as a national advanced strategic technology under the National Advanced Strategic Industry Act, comprehensive support will become available at the national level, including investment support such as the designation of specialized complexes, the operation of specialized graduate schools for workforce development, priority allocation of R&D budgets, and the establishment of various tax support regulations.

To this end, Pohang has continued to make proposals by visiting the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and plans to proactively prepare for future demand surveys.

In addition, this coming November, Graphene Square’s world-first graphene film mass production plant within the Blue Valley National Industrial Complex is scheduled for completion. Pohang plans to use this as a starting point to actively foster graphene as a new growth engine industry.

A representative from Graphene Square stated, "Currently, about 90% of the factory construction has been completed, and after completion, we will enter full-scale mass production following trial analysis and testing. With the designation of advanced technology, we will accelerate technological advancement and commercialization."

A Pohang city official emphasized, "The confirmation of Graphene Square’s CVD graphene application technology as an advanced technology by the ministry marks a turning point for enhancing the competitiveness of Pohang’s graphene industry. We will concentrate our administrative capabilities to establish Pohang as the center of the graphene industry."

Graphene Square Pohang Factory Construction Site (August 2025).

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