Infrastructure worth 14 billion won will be built in the Gyeongnam and Changwon regions to ensure the success of the national project, the "Smart Industrial Complex."

Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI, Acting President Dong-wook Yoo), the only electrical research institute in Korea, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Smart Innovation Center at its Changwon headquarters on the 12th.

The event was attended by approximately 50 people including Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyeong-soo, Changwon Mayor Heo Seong-moo, Kim Hyeon-cheol, Director General of Regional Economic Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Kim Jeong-hwan, Chairman of the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, and Yoo Dong-wook, Acting President of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, as well as local government officials and key related organizations, companies and universities.

The event, which was held in compliance with social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), consisted of welcoming remarks and congratulatory remarks from key figures, a progress report on key projects in the Gyeongnam-Changwon Smart Industrial Complex, a groundbreaking ceremony, and a commemorative photo shoot.

'Smart' established to revitalize the manufacturing industry in Gyeongnam and Changwon regionThe "T Innovation Center," scheduled for completion in March 2022, is a key infrastructure project supporting projects promoted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (Minister Sung Yun-mo) and the Gyeongnam Changwon Smart Green Industrial Complex Project (Director Park Min-won). Key projects include the "Process Innovation Simulation Center" and the "Smart Manufacturing Advanced Human Resources Training Program."

The 'Process Innovation Simulation Center', which began last year, is a business support project that predicts various difficulties faced by local small and medium-sized enterprises during the product development stage through simulation and even suggests solutions.

The KERI Interpretation Technology Support Center (Director Baek Myeong-gi) is responsible for the operation. To date, approximately 40 small and medium-sized enterprises have received technical support through simulations in various fields, including power equipment (3D motors), automobiles (battery cooling pads), tourism (the impact of Cheomseongdae earthquakes), architecture (Mongolian-style house eco-fans), and healthcare (balance exercise equipment). The results have been impressive, resulting in a total of KRW 8.4 billion in product development and production time savings.

With the establishment of this Smart Innovation Center, KERI plans to expand its support to create a more favorable environment for more simulation-based companies. Furthermore, through collaboration with local industry, academia, and research institutions, KERI plans to establish various simulation-related training programs, aiming to train over 100 analysis technology experts annually. Experts estimate that the center's support for simulation companies will exceed 10 billion won annually, including 4 billion won in reduced software purchase and maintenance costs and 5 billion won in reduced production costs. The ripple effect is expected to be even greater when considering the shortened product development and production periods for companies.

KERI Acting President Yoo Dong-wook stated, “Through the Process Innovation Simulation Center, which will become even more powerful, we plan to actively support companies to reduce opportunity costs and increase sales by developing new products, localizing equipment, solving problems with existing products, entering overseas markets, and establishing research institutes. We will also support them so that they can adapt to the changes of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and become hidden champions who will lead future industries.”

Another key area, the "Smart Manufacturing High-Level Talent Development Project," aims to cultivate key personnel who will lead smart manufacturing innovation in the Gyeongnam and Changwon regions and expand related jobs. Led by Changwon National University, the project is being implemented in collaboration with KERI, Kyungnam National University, Changwon Moonseong College, and the Gyeongnam Changwon Industry-Academia Convergence Institute. The establishment of this Smart Innovation Center aims to foster a state-of-the-art educational environment and cultivate a large number of highly skilled master's and doctoral degree holders in smart manufacturing, thereby contributing to the revitalization and smartization of the Changwon National Industrial Complex, the backbone of South Korea's machinery industry.

Meanwhile, KERI, the core technology institute of the Changwon Gangso R&D Special Zone in Gyeongnam Province, is making significant efforts to apply "intelligent electrical technology" to the machinery industry, fostering manufacturing innovation and revitalizing the local economy. Starting with the opening of the Artificial Intelligence Research Center with the University of Waterloo in Canada last year, the company plans to continuously build core infrastructure for the expanded application of intelligent electrical technology, including the Smart Innovation Center, which is currently under construction, and the internationally accredited testing and certification facility for HVDC power equipment in the second half of this year.