The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS, President Choi Cheol-jin) celebrated its 17th anniversary by emphasizing the globalization of K-materials and announcing the institute's steps toward becoming a materials powerhouse.

On the 22nd, the Korea Materials Research Institute held its '17th Anniversary Ceremony' with all employees in attendance at the auditorium of the main building of the Korea Materials Research Institute located in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do.

At the event, the Korea Materials Research Institute awarded awards such as the President's Award from the National Research Council for Science and Technology and the President's Award from the Korea Institute of Materials Science to individuals and organizations that demonstrated excellent research activities and work capabilities.

The National Research Council of Science and Technology Chairman’s Award was presented to Kim Young-min, Senior Researcher at the Magnesium Laboratory of the Metal Materials Research Division, and Lee Jong-man, Senior Researcher at the Research Planning Office of the Research Planning and Coordination Division. The Ceramic Materials Research Division’s Functional Ceramics Laboratory received the Excellent Research Award, the Nano-Bio Convergence Laboratory of the Nano-Surface Materials Research Division received the Industrial Property Award, and the Metal Materials Research Division’s Aluminum Laboratory received the Academic Award.

In addition, the Excellence in Industrial Property Rights Award was presented to Kim Kyung-tae, Senior Researcher at the 3D Printing Materials Lab of the Powder Materials Research Headquarters, and the Excellence in Academics Award was presented to Kim Young-gyun, Senior Researcher at the Special Alloy Lab of the Extreme Materials Research Institute. In addition to this, a total of 6 teams and 33 people were selected as award recipients at the ceremony that day.

At the 17th anniversary ceremony held on this day, Materials Research Institute also announced its twelfth world-class technology.

This is the 'Nd-reduced high-performance permanent magnet material technology' of Dr. Lee Jeong-gu's research team at the Magnetic Materials Research Lab of the Powder Materials Research Division.

This technology is a rare earth-reduction permanent magnet material technology that can reduce the use of expensive rare earth element neodymium (Nd) by approximately 30% and achieve the performance level of commercial magnets (42M grade). It was selected as one of the 100 best national research and development achievements in 2022.

In his commemorative speech that day, President Choi Chul-jin of the Korea Materials Research Institute said, “In order to globalize K-materials, we need to ideally develop various international interests and exchanges rather than isolationism and purism.” He added, “To this end, we need to actively communicate with various countries, open research to various people, and share each other’s ideas to expand research directions.”