The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS, President Lee Jeong-hwan), a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT, has joined hands with Korea University (President Kim Dong-won) to establish a collaborative research and education system.

On the 26th, the Korea Materials Research Institute and Korea University signed a business agreement in the first conference room of the main building of Korea University with the attendance of Director Lee Jeong-hwan of the Korea Materials Research Institute and President Kim Dong-won of Korea University, and promised to establish and operate the ‘Department of Future Convergence Materials’ within the general graduate school of Korea University.

This business agreement aims to jointly contribute to national development through the training of highly skilled professionals and research and development in line with Korea's science and technology policies.

The newly established and operated Department of Future Convergence Materials at the Graduate School of Korea University will establish a cooperative research system in which the Korea Institute of Materials Science and Technology (KIMS) and Korea University will jointly conduct research and education.

The two institutions will collaborate and jointly operate the undergraduate program and collaborative research. Students will work at the Materials Research Institute, gain opportunities for field training, and attend lectures at Korea University when classes are available.

Although basic classes are taught by Korea University, the Materials Research Institute's advisor is required to teach at least one course during the entire coursework period (3 years for the integrated master's and doctoral program, 2 years for the doctoral program) to ensure that students receive high-quality instruction.

Director Lee Jeong-hwan of the Materials Research Institute said, “In the future, students will study ultra-high temperature materials, cryogenic materials, and impact/damage materials necessary for the aviation, space, and shipbuilding industries at the Materials Research Institute and Korea University.“We will focus on research and learning in diverse and specialized fields, such as the development of composite materials for stone environment materials and ultra-high pressure hydrogen,” he said. “The Materials Research Institute will continue to strive to find various routes to expand talent, such as resolving the difficulties in strengthening human resources faced by local research institutes and companies through the Materials Colloquium currently underway with Seoul National University and the establishment and operation of the Department of Future Convergence Materials at Korea University.”