Fraunhofer IKTS brings Korean research funding to Dresden

The Korean Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are intensifying their relations in the field of application-oriented research. The lead organisation on the Korean side is KEIT as one of the R&D project sponsors in the Korean Ministry of Economic Affairs, while Fraunhofer IKTS is responsible on the German side. The KEIT specialises in the planning, evaluation and management of research and development in the field of industrial technologies in Süd Korea. The research activities focus on the demand from industry and the marketability of technologies.

»Südkorea has been an important strategic partner of Fraunhofer IKTS for many years. The joint centre will now create an international contact point that brings companies and researchers together to develop concrete technology projects«, emphasises IKTS Institute Director Prof. Alexander Michaelis. »Together, we are developing sustainable and economical solutions to the global challenges of resource scarcity, energy transition and digitalisation and putting them into practice with companies. In particular, IKTS contributes its expertise in the fields of energy and environmental technologies, green hydrogen and non-destructive testing to these collaborations.

The centre acts as a coordination point for R&D cooperation between Fraunhofer IKTS and other Fraunhofer institutes, universities and companies from Germany as well as Korean research and industrial partners. Together, technology needs and technology funding programmes for joint projects in both countries are identified, project initiation is supported and technology transfer is prepared.

In addition, networking between the German and Korean partners will be further promoted in joint seminars and workshops. Both Fraunhofer IKTS and KEIT are supporting the centre in Dresden-Klotzsche with human resources. The first German-Korean R&D projects are scheduled to start as early as 2024.

»The establishment of this joint centre is an important step and a direct result of our efforts in recent years to make Saxon research and industry even more visible internationally. The fact that Saxony was chosen as the location is a great success and proves once again that the location is also perceived internationally as one of the most dynamic in Europe«, said Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Martin Dulig in his welcoming address at the opening ceremony of the centre. Dulig continued: "We therefore very much welcome and support the initiative of the Fraunhofer IKTS to establish a German-Korean cooperation centre with the KEIT. Germany and South Korea not only share the same values and the same economic and security policy interests, but also face similar global challenges. The new cooperation centre will help to bring our S&H researchers closer together with our Korean partners and deepen cooperation in the interests of both our countries.

Press release of the "Fraunhofer IKTS" from 21 February 2024