Pocheon City, KAIST, and the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers Join Forces to Foster the '3D Printing Drone Industry'

On April 21, Pocheon City in Gyeonggi Province signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Defense Specialized Development Research Institute at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Smart Additive Manufacturing Research Group of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers for the development of drone production technology based on 3D printers and for the cultivation of talent in this field.

Pocheon City Signs Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Collaboration on Drone and 3D Printer-Based Production Technology Development and Talent Cultivation. Provided by Pocheon City

This agreement is part of Pocheon City's efforts to foster the defense industry and strengthen the foundation of the national defense sector through practical cooperation. Under the agreement, the three organizations will cooperate in a range of areas, including: supporting the planning and operation of the local drone industry in Pocheon City; developing technology and building infrastructure to vitalize the drone industry; jointly discovering, planning, and operating national and defense projects; and identifying and running educational programs to train specialized drone professionals.

Starting in the second half of this year, Pocheon City will launch the nation’s first all-stage integrated education program, which will include a drone talent development track that moves beyond pilot training, as well as public-private-military collaborative education for local students and citizens. The development of additive manufacturing production technology based on 3D printers will also be promoted in parallel.

The Defense Specialized Development Research Institute at KAIST, which leads research on defense industry technology and national defense innovation, is expected to play a key role in advanced technology-based drone development and demonstration projects. The Smart Additive Manufacturing Research Group of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers is also expected to contribute to the advancement of the defense parts and drone industries through additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology.

Prior to this agreement, Pocheon City passed the "Ordinance on the Promotion and Support of the Defense Industry in Pocheon City," establishing a legal and institutional foundation to support defense companies and foster the industry’s ecosystem. In addition, by opening the Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center, the city has expanded the industrial base for attracting defense companies.

A Pocheon City official stated, "In collaboration with KAIST, a leader in domestic science and technology, Pocheon City plans to provide special educational opportunities for local students and citizens, and plans to establish educational and production facilities at Gyeonggi-Daejin Technopark in the second half of the year."

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