- A joint research center plaque ceremony was held on the 28th, marking the launch of an enhanced collaboration framework.

- Center will be developed as a technology development hub for next-generation materials, including ultra-cryogenic and Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) applications.

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) have established a joint research center to strengthen their collaborative framework for securing advanced materials technologies in the shipbuilding and offshore sectors.

SHI announced on the 28th that it held a plaque ceremony at the `KIMS–SHI Materials Innovation Research Center`, located within the KIMS campus in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, officially launching joint research activities.

The ceremony was attended by Sung-an Choi, Vice Chairman and CEO of SHI; Chul-jin Choi, President of KIMS; and Young-sik Kim, Chairman of the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), among other key officials.

The establishment of the research center follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the two organizations in February and represents a concrete step toward deepening cooperation in core materials technologies that will shape the future competitiveness of the shipbuilding and offshore industry.

Under the collaboration, SHI will identify technologies required at production sites, develop technology roadmaps, and conduct demonstration and validation activities, while KIMS will focus on fundamental technology development and reliability evaluation.

Initially, SHI and KIMS plan to concentrate their joint efforts on developing KC-2C LNG cargo containment system materials, ultra-cryogenic materials and related application technologies, and materials and manufacturing technologies for Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs). By organically integrating key infrastructure and specialized research personnel, the two parties aim to develop the research center into a hub for shipbuilding and offshore materials technology development.

“The Materials Innovation Research Center is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving technological self-reliance in materials for future eco-friendly vessels, such as liquid hydrogen carriers,” stated representative from Samsung Heavy Industries. “The center will significantly contribute to building a robust ecosystem for materials and components in the shipbuilding and offshore industry.”