The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) has selected approximately 700 projects that challenge the development of world-first and best-level technologies through the first announcement of the program-type R&D project from January to March 2024, and will quickly provide support by announcing a second announcement of a total of 228 challenging and innovative projects in May.

On the 1st, it was announced that from 2024, the development of challenging and innovative technologies such as ultra-high voltage GaN power semiconductors for electric vehicles, high nickel secondary batteries with over 96% content, tandem next-generation solar cells, and hydrogen fuel cell turbine power generation systems will be promoted as program-type R&D projects.

There are a total of 24 program-type projects. In order to quickly respond to environmental changes and on-site research needs by industry, such as automobiles, energy, and electronic components, only the scale is determined during budget review, and research projects are planned autonomously by each ministry.

Among the first round of announcement support projects, the 'Development of High-Voltage GaN Power Module Technology for Electric Vehicles' project was participated by forming a consortium with Semipowerex (host), Hyundai Motor Company, Samsung Electronics, and Seoul National University.

This project is a development environment for compound (GaN, gallium nitride)-based power semiconductors to increase power conversion efficiency and minimize energy loss during the vehicle battery charging process. It is being carried out with the goal of developing and manufacturing domestic power semiconductors.

More than 90% of domestic demand for power semiconductors depends on imports, and there are no domestic companies that have commercialized power semiconductors for charging high-capacity vehicle batteries, so there are growing calls for the need for domestic technology development.

The project involves the development of domestic components and processes for developing compound-based power semiconductors for charging high-capacity vehicle batteries, and the development and evaluation of a charger power conversion module. It is expected to increase the charging efficiency of electric vehicle batteries and minimize power loss, thereby improving the driving range of electric vehicles and reducing charging costs.

As the government set a challenging goal of commercializing 1.2kV ultra-high voltage power semiconductors, innovative government R&D projects are promoting collaboration between the country's top researchers and companies, with the country's top large and small businesses and universities forming a dream team to participate.

The tasks to be announced for the second time this time include the following in the mobility field: △ autonomous driving sensors and cameras that can see accurately even in bad weather such as rain and fog, △ secondary batteries with a nickel content of 96% or higher, and △ development of key components for methanol propulsion ship engines.

The core goal of the project, 'Autonomous driving sensor/camera that can see accurately even in bad weather such as rain and fog', is to develop a shortwave infrared high-output vehicle camera module that can respond to medium and long distances (over 150 m).

Domestic automakers are applying front, side, and rear visible light cameras, but we will secure autonomous driving reliability and social acceptance by overcoming limitations (fog/smoke, etc.) compared to existing visible light cameras by overcoming the fog/smoke recognition limitations. Expectations are rising that this will be possible.

The key goal of the project, 'Development of high-capacity/high-safety high-nickel (≥96%) cathode material technology for electric vehicles', is to secure a high capacity of 215 mAh/g or more at a nickel content of 96% or more and a charging voltage of 4.3 V.

Domestic material companies are increasing the nickel content in battery cathode materials to increase capacity, but their application is being delayed due to life and safety issues. The aim is to overcome this by developing high-capacity/high-safety opposing cathode active materials, long-life/high-safety small-particle cathode active materials, and high-energy density electrodes utilizing these materials, as well as developing materials to ensure safety.

This project is expected to secure ultra-gap technology for high-nickel cathode materials, which are designated as key national technologies, and expand the market for high-energy density batteries and high-performance electric vehicles using them.

In the energy sector, support is provided for the development of: △tandem next-generation solar cells that overcome the efficiency limits of existing silicon-based solar cells; △the world’s first hydrogen infrastructure-linked hydrogen fuel cell turbine power generation system (50-100MW); and △vacuum insulation systems for liquid hydrogen carrier storage tanks.

The core goal of the project, 'Development of Materials and Equipment for Vacuum Insulation Systems for Liquid Hydrogen Storage Tanks', is to develop materials that are three times larger than the size of existing powder-type insulation materials (65㎛) and minimize filling time.

Liquid hydrogen has a low temperature of -253oC (20K), requiring a highly advanced insulation system and large-scale storage tank technology for maritime transport in large quantities. Currently, major countries around the world are competitively developing technology.

It is expected that the shipbuilding industry will be able to gain competitiveness with new products and core technologies that will lead the global market, such as LNG carriers, through the development of insulation material technology to improve the efficiency of filling and vacuum forming operations, equipment technology to maximize the efficiency of powder insulation material filling and vacuum operations for pressurized (Type C) storage tanks, etc.

Oh Seung-cheol, director of the Industrial Infrastructure Division, said, “The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will increase the timeliness and flexibility of investment by responding to rapid changes in the industrial environment and corporate demands through program-based projects, and increase the ripple effect of government R&D by presenting challenging technology development goals.”