The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM, President Sang-jin Park), under the Ministry of Science and ICT, is fostering a specialized research organization to achieve carbon neutrality and strengthening its R&D functions to secure essential national strategic technologies.

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) will implement an organizational restructuring on April 1st, with the establishment of a new "Carbon Neutral Machinery Research Institute" directly under the president.

This is a reorganization to strengthen the core mechanical technology research and development function for energy and environmental plants, which is one of the research institute's unique R&R (roles and responsibilities), and to consolidate research capabilities related to improving energy efficiency and environmental mechanical technology.

To achieve the government's 2050 carbon neutrality policy, the Carbon Neutral Machinery Research Institute promotes research and development of green machine technology in the following areas: low- and zero-carbon clean energy infrastructure technology, energy conversion and electrification-based technology, and energy-efficient machine technology.

In addition, the 'AI Robot Research Headquarters' will be established to accumulate and respond to essential national strategic technologies, and research capabilities in robotics and artificial intelligence will be consolidated. The Robot Mechatronics Research Lab and the Artificial Intelligence Machinery Research Lab, which were previously under the Advanced Production Equipment Research Department and the Machinery System Safety Research Headquarters, will be reorganized under the AI Robot Research Headquarters.

The AI Robot Research Center promotes research and development of next-generation robot intelligence, design, core human-robot collaboration components, and application technologies for a future where humans and robots coexist.

In addition, in response to the enforcement of the Serious Disaster Punishment Act, a 'Safety and Health Office' was newly established, and the existing Safety Facilities Office was divided into a Facility Security Office and a Safety and Health Office to strengthen its functions.

Park Sang-jin, president of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), said, “Securing the mechanical technology necessary to achieve carbon neutrality is one of KIMM’s most important goals, along with securing technology in the materials, components, and equipment industries.” He added, “To this end, we will systematically identify core technologies and items and expand our R&D capabilities, while further strengthening our role as the focal point of our machinery industry and the hub of machinery technology policy.”