KTC Takes Significant Steps for Testing, Certification, and Research Collaboration in the Busan-Gyeongsangnam-do Region
On June 28th, Korea Testing Certification institute (KTC) announced its cooperative agreements with relevant institutions to expand testing, certification, and research projects in the machinery industry, as well as in the future industries of biotech and hydrogen in the Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do regions.
In order to contribute to the activation and development of the local economy and industries, KTC has been establishing testing infrastructure for various industries, supporting companies in their overseas expansion through testing, certification, and research. As part of these efforts, KTC has initiated collaborations with relevant institutions and universities to expand support for specialized industries in the Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do regions.
Firstly, on the 26th, KTC signed a cooperative agreement with the Busan Machinery Industry Cooperatives to support testing, certification, and enhance competitiveness in the machinery industry, which is a key industry in the Busan region. The two organizations have agreed to cooperate in various aspects, including technological support, information exchange for quality improvement, mutual cooperation in testing and certification, joint cooperation and support for the development of specialized industries in the region, and strengthening industrial competitiveness. KTC will provide comprehensive services, including technical support for new product launches and testing and certification information for overseas market entry, to the association's member companies.
▲ MOU signing between KTC and Busan Machinery Industry Cooperatives
Meanwhile, the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) has forecasted that the export volume of general machinery from Busan will experience reverse growth in 2023 compared to the previous year, after reaching $51.1 billion in 2022. In response to the declining demand for machinery and the digital transformation of industries, the city of Busan has been actively promoting improvements in its capabilities by selecting smart factories, high-tech materials, and robotics as priority areas.
Furthermore, on the 27th, KTC signed a cooperative agreement with the Gimhae Biomedical Industry promotion Agency to strengthen support for the biotech industry in the Gyeongsangnam-do region. The two organizations will cooperate in establishing a collaborative system for securing technological capabilities in the medical device industry, providing technical support for medical device approvals, jointly utilizing facilities and equipment for certification testing, supporting startups and small businesses, and addressing technological barriers. Through this collaboration, they aim to promote the development of the medical device industry in the Gyeongsangnam-do and Gimhae city.
▲ MOU signing between KTC and Gimhae Biomedical Industry promotion Agency
As for Gimhae City in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, it is a local government with the distinction of being the only specialized zone for research and development of medical devices in the country. As of 2022, a total of 144 companies have settled in the zone. Since its designation as a specialized zone in 2019, the local government has been actively supporting the technological development and commercialization of biohealth companies, resulting in an annual average increase rate of 29% in the number of companies.
On the other hand, KTC serves as the designated testing and inspection institution for the largest number of product categories by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It is also the evaluation body for second-class medical device technical documents and the certification body for medical device manufacturing and quality management standards (GMP). By providing comprehensive services for obtaining approvals from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, as well as collaborating with European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) certification institutions, KTC supports Korean companies in obtaining European medical device certifications and expanding into overseas markets. This collaborative effort between the two organizations is expected to create a win-win effect.
In the field of hydrogen, on the same day, June 27th, KTC signed a cooperative agreement with Changwon University to establish collaborative measures for joint research and development and personnel exchange to enhance capabilities in the Gyeongsangnam-do region. The two organizations have pledged to make joint efforts in research and development, education, and technological exchanges in emerging industries, mutual cooperation in testing and certification, and the development of specialized industries in the region.
▲ MOU signing between KTC and Changwon University
Hydrogen is one of KTC's strategic areas, and it is the only accredited testing and inspection agency in the gas measurement field in Korea. Recently, it has actively participated in hydrogen-related research projects, including certification as a research institution for R&D projects on hydrogen blending in city gas pipeline networks. Changwon University operates a graduate school specializing in hydrogen energy to cultivate specialized human resources in the hydrogen industry. Through mutual cooperation between the two institutions, they expect to create synergistic effects in hydrogen industry research and development.
Furthermore, it is projected that the global hydrogen economy market will reach an annual scale of $2.5 trillion by 2050, with Korea's market expected to exceed $59 billion. In line with this trend, local governments in Korea are focusing on the hydrogen industry to secure future food sources. Among them, Changwon City is at the forefront of hydrogen industry-related activities, covering the entire cycle from hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization, and it is the local government with the highest concentration of hydrogen industry companies.
Moreover, on the same day, KTC visited Changwon City Hall and discussed with Mayor Hong Nam-pyo regarding support for testing, certification, and other related activities in the hydrogen industry. KTC plans to collaborate to help establish infrastructure related to key industries in Changwon and assist local companies in obtaining certifications, both domestically and internationally, to enhance their global competitiveness.
▲ Meeting between KTC and Changwon City Mayor
Sungil Ahn, President of KTC, stated, "Through this cooperative agreement, we will establish a collaborative system for key industries in the Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do regions, actively participate in regional innovation, and make efforts to achieve mutual growth by providing support for export promotion to companies.“
