The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) and Changwon Special City held a full-scale discussion on future industrial strategies based on their cooperative relationship that has continued for the past 50 years.

On the 29th, KERI held a joint 'Future Industry Strategy Symposium' with Changwon Special City and Changwon Industrial Promotion Agency at the Changwon Libera Convention Center, and presented a new 50-year blueprint for regional industry with industry, research, and government working together.

This symposium was organized to share the achievements of KERI, which has grown alongside the Changwon National Industrial Complex since its establishment in Seongju-dong, Changwon in 1976, and to explore directions for cooperation for future industrial transformation.

The event was attended by key figures including KERI Director Kim Nam-gyun, Changwon Special City Mayor Jang Geum-yong, Changwon Special City Council Speaker Son Tae-hwa, and local business representatives, showing great interest.

Kim Seok-ju, KERI Research Director, gave a keynote speech and introduced the key infrastructure achievements built through collaboration with Changwon City.

Representative examples include supporting the launch of the Jang Yeong-sil through the Land-Based Testing Laboratory (LBTS), strengthening the export competitiveness of power equipment based on the HVDC Testing and Certification Center, localizing and modernizing machine tool numerical control panels through the AI CNC Demonstration Center, and shortening corporate product development and production periods through the Smart Innovation Center's process innovation simulation technology.

Vice President Kim especially ‘ He presented a vision for building an 'open KERI second campus' and emphasized the strategy for the next 50 years.

He announced his plan to establish a core demonstration infrastructure in the southeastern region to implement national strategic technologies such as AI and power semiconductors on the ground, and to foster it as a hub for collaboration connecting regional research institutes, local governments, businesses, and universities.

Next, Lee Jeong-hwan, President of the Changwon Industrial Promotion Agency, shared the manufacturing AI transformation process and success stories, and announced a vision for creating a global manufacturing innovation-leading city centered on physical AI.

He emphasized that Changwon, a manufacturing-centered city, can secure new growth engines through AI-based industrial innovation.

The economic ripple effects were also specifically disclosed.

Kim Jong-moon, head of the KERI Technology Startup Center, explained that since the designation of Changwon as a special economic zone, tangible results have been achieved, including the establishment and start-up of research institutes, investment attraction, increased sales, and job creation.

Lee Kyung-hee, Director of the KERI Corporate Support Office, said that the Medical and Bio Advanced Device Research and Manufacturing Center is strengthening the foundation for local companies to enter high value-added industries.

At the event, awards were presented to companies that had shown excellent cooperation, including DX Solutions and Eflow, sharing the tangible results of cooperation between industry, research, and government.

Kim Nam-gyun, President of KERI, said, “This symposium is the starting point for KERI and Changwon City to jointly design the future of local industries,” and added, “I hope that the strategies discussed will become a turning point that will revolutionize the constitution of Changwon’s industries.”

Meanwhile, KERI is a government-funded research institute specializing in electricity under the National Research Council of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science and ICT, and is leading the development of both regional industries and national strategic technologies.