A manufacturing innovation base worth 28.6 billion won, designed to lead manufacturing innovation in the Gyeongnam and Changwon regions, has opened its doors and is making full-fledged efforts to ensure the success of the smart industrial complex.

The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI, Acting President Nam-Kyun Kim) announced on the 22nd that it held an opening ceremony for the ‘Smart Innovation Center’ after one year and eight months of preparation.

The event was held at the research institute's Changwon headquarters, and was attended by approximately 100 people including local governments leading the project, including Gyeongnam Province, Changwon Special City, and the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, as well as key related organizations, companies, and universities.

The Smart Innovation Center is a core infrastructure project worth 28.6 billion won (including building construction and internal facilities and equipment) that supports local small and medium-sized enterprises and trains manufacturing personnel. Key projects include the 'Process Innovation Simulation Center' and the 'Smart Manufacturing Advanced Human Resources Training Program.'

Launched in 2020, the "Process Innovation Simulation Center" is a business support program that uses simulations to predict various difficulties faced by local small and medium-sized enterprises during the product development stage and even suggests solutions. The operation is handled by the KERI Interpretation Technology Support Center (Director Baek Myeong-gi).

So far, we have provided technical support through simulations to 151 companies in the fields of automobiles (steering devices, battery cooling pads), power equipment (electric valve simulation, 3D motors), marine industry (plastic sleeper simulation), ships (fishing boat propeller simulation), health (stent simulation for bio-implantation), tourism (the impact of Cheomseongdae earthquake), architecture (Mongolian-style house eco-fan), and healthcare (balance exercise equipment), and have played a major role in reducing opportunity costs and increasing sales for companies by reducing product development and production periods worth approximately KRW 27 billion.

KERI plans to expand its support through the newly completed Smart Innovation Center to enable more companies to benefit from simulation in a better environment.

In addition, through cooperation with local industry, academia, and research institutes, we plan to establish various simulation-related training programs and train more than 100 analysis technology experts each year.

Another key area, the 'Smart Manufacturing Advanced Human Resources Training Project', is a project aimed at fostering key human resources who will lead smart manufacturing innovation in the Gyeongnam and Changwon regions and expanding related jobs.

The event will be hosted by Changwon National University, with KERI, Gyeongnam National University, Changwon Moonseong University, and Gyeongnam Changwon Industry-Academic Convergence Center participating.

The goal of this Smart Innovation Center completion is to establish a cutting-edge educational environment and cultivate a large number of highly skilled, master's and doctoral-level personnel in the smart manufacturing field, thereby achieving the revitalization and smartization of the Changwon National Industrial Complex, the backbone of Korea's machinery industry.

KERI Acting Director Kim Nam-gyun said, “The Smart Innovation Center is a forward base that leads both the present and future of the Gyeongnam and Changwon manufacturing industry,” adding, “We hope that local companies experiencing difficulties will lead the 4th Industrial Revolution through digital transformation.” We plan to strengthen our support so that they can grow into hidden champions,” he said.

Meanwhile, KERI is a government-funded research institute under the National Research Council of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Science and ICT. As the core technology institution of the Changwon Gangso R&D Special Zone in Gyeongnam Province, KERI is also making significant efforts to support companies utilizing cutting-edge electrical technologies and promote regional development. Key projects include: "AI-based manufacturing innovation" in collaboration with the University of Waterloo in Canada; "Expansion of the Technology Startup Center" to support the business infrastructure of local companies; "Establishment of an Internationally Accredited Testing and Certification Center for HVDC Power Equipment" to enhance the export competitiveness of domestic companies; and "Innopolis Campus" to support prospective and early-stage entrepreneurs.