15 Public Research Institutes to Establish 403 Types of Demonstration Equipment for Key Items
Sharing Case Studies on Localization, Investment Expansion, and Entry into Global Supply Chains
Establishment of roadmap for five major materials, parts, and equipment testbeds this year


On the 13th, Joo Young-joon, Head of the Industrial Policy Office at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, visited the site of the Korea Automotive Research Institute’s ‘100 Key Strategic Items Testbed for Materials, Parts, and Equipment’ (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Sobujang Testbed’) to inspect the construction status and presided over a meeting with major public research institutions participating in the construction.

The meeting was held to discuss ways to strengthen support for materials, parts, and equipment companies by public research institutes and to share the achievements of corporate support utilizing the materials, parts, and equipment testbeds of five major public research institutes, including the Korea Automotive Research Institute. A materials, parts, and equipment testbed is an essential infrastructure for demonstrating and evaluating reliability and mass producibility during the commercialization process of a company's developed products.

In July 2019, immediately after Japan's export restrictions, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy identified 566 types of equipment necessary for the demonstration and evaluation of 100 key strategic items in materials, parts, and equipment, and is promoting the establishment of testbeds at 15 public research institutions that possess corporate support capabilities and equipment operation know-how.

The 15 public research institutes include: ▲Metal sector - Korea Institute of Materials Science, Pohang Institute of Industrial Science and Technology ▲Chemical sector - Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Chemical Convergence Testing & Research Institute, Korea Construction & Living Environment Testing Institute ▲Textile sector - FITI Testing & Research Institute, DYETEC ▲Ceramics & Electronics sector - Korea Electronics & Technological Institute, Korea Industrial Technology Testing Institute, Korea Ceramic Technology Institute, Korea Testing Laboratory for Machinery & Electrical & Electronic Equipment ▲Machinery sector - Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Korea Automotive Research Institute, Korea Construction Machinery Parts Research Institute, etc.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has decided to establish a total of 403 testbeds for materials, parts, and equipment from July of this year to March of next year, which is 71.2% of the final target. Joo Young-jun, Head of the Industrial Policy Office, stated, “We will announce a testbed roadmap for specialized complexes in the five major future growth sectors within the year,” adding, “We will strengthen the linkage between future growth engines and key policies for materials, parts, and equipment.”

The five major specialized complexes for materials, parts, and equipment are semiconductors (Yongin, Gyeonggi-do), secondary batteries (Cheongju, Chungbuk), displays (Cheonan and Asan, Chungnam), carbon materials (Jeonju, Jeonbuk), and precision machinery (Changwon, Gyeongnam).

Director Joo stated, “We will complete the establishment of a testbed for 100 key items and support the entire technology development process, from R&D to the deployment of actual production facilities, for public research institutes and materials, parts, and equipment companies.”

During the subsequent meeting, major success stories utilizing the materials, parts, and equipment testbed were presented.

Glotech faced difficulties in securing localization technology for premium ultra-low reflection films, which are monopolized by foreign companies. However, with support utilizing the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology's pilot wet coating equipment, the company succeeded in product development and is currently considering investing in mass production facilities.

MK Electronics has succeeded in the first mass production of copper solder balls (CCSB) in Korea by utilizing thermal resistance measurement equipment from the Korea Electronics Technology Institute, and has succeeded in localizing semiconductor materials that were previously entirely imported, and is pursuing a facility investment of 2 billion won.

Techross, a ballast water treatment equipment company, has become the world's number one company in the field thanks to continuous reliability improvement support from the Korea Electronics Technology Institute, such as ultra-accelerated life testing and design support.

Meanwhile, at the meeting held on this day, through the strengthening of the 'Materials, Parts, and Equipment Convergence Alliance,' [the following were discussed]: ➊ strengthening testbeds by expanding testbeds by institution and fostering mutual cooperation; ➋ enhancing service linkages between institutions, such as the joint establishment of testbeds; ➌ opening up information, such as sharing intellectual property rights and establishing an information-based accumulation system; ➍ promoting commercialization, such as revitalizing corporate technology commercialization; and ➎ joint online and offline promotion, including major academic conferences and exhibitions. Various policies were proposed, including discussions to proceed with them.