Korea: Ceramics research

A century-plus of ceramic technology

When it comes to shepherding ceramic innovations into the marketplace, the Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering & Technology (KICET) specializes in the testing, evaluation, and certification of ceramic materials. Its origin traces to 1912, when the Central Testing Laboratory, a government organization, established its Ceramics Department. As of 2019, however, it has operated as a research and development-oriented institution under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy.

“Its mission includes research and development of cutting-edge new materials in the ceramics field, as well as testing, analysis and evaluation, corporate support, and ceramic industry policy support,” the website states.¹⁵ “It is the only specialized ceramic research institute in Korea that has contributed to the development of national industries through innovation in ceramic technology.”

Its fields of research include optoelectronic materials, energy and environment materials, mechanical structural materials, biomaterials, nanocomposite materials, traditional ceramic materials, and ceramic process technology.

Current areas of focus at KICET include the Aerospace Ceramic Fiber Convergence Material Utilization Commercialization Support Project,¹⁶ now in its second year. The project supports small and medium-sized enterprises in the production and commercialization of aerospace prototypes using ceramic fiber composite materials.

Committed to instituting innovation

The research institutes mentioned in the preceding sections are but a few of the many organizations working to advance Korea’s scientific endeavors. Additional Korean research institutes, as represented by members of the Korean Ceramic Society’s Board of Directors, are listed below.

• Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) is a post-secondary institution that opened in 2009 and conducts all courses in English. Its research areas of focus include next-generation energy and advanced materials, including bio, energy, composite, and carbon materials.
• Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) encompasses a Hydrogen Energy Institute, Renewable Energy Institute, Energy Efficiency Research Division, Climate Change Research Division, Jeju Global Research Center, R&D Strategy Division, and Energy AI & Computational Science Laboratory.
• Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) describes itself as “a specialized organization for industrial technology R&D planning, evaluation, and management that works with the public and businesses, aims to proactively pursue the mission of ‘technology-led innovative growth and a technology-based industrial powerhouse.’”
• Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH) describes itself as “committed to becoming a hub and open platform by hosting global energy research centers and energy start-ups” so that “participating stakeholders may share research resources and their achievements through the integrated efforts of future energy inventions and innovations.”

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