Stepping up R&D capabilities

Inha University students majoring in electronic engineering measure electrical resistance and solid state circuitry using an amperometric device on the school’s campus in Incheon. / Courtesy of Inha University

Inha University to team up with NASA, Airbus in Songdo

By Chung Hyun-chae

Inha University is pushing for an ambitious project to set up aerospace and biochemical R&D centers in Songdo, Incheon, west of Seoul, in cooperation with the world’s leading institutes and firms.

“The project is aimed at boosting our R&D capabilities to help improve the global competitiveness of the city and the nation by teaming up with world-renowned institutes and companies,” Choe Soon-ja, president of the Incheon-based university, told The Korea Times in a recent interview.

Inha University President Choe Soon-ja speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the English daily’s newsroom in Seoul, Dec. 17. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

She disclosed a plan to open an R&D center jointly with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in February in the academic-industrial cooperation district in Songdo, near the university’s campus. Songdo, adjacent to Incheon International Airport, is home to the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ).

“The center will devote itself to R&D of parts for aircraft, spaceships and space probes,” she said. “Students majoring in machinery, new materials, electronics and chemical engineering in graduate and professional courses can participate in joint R&D projects with NASA.”

The center will be called the Ilwoo Institute of Space Science and Technology (IST), NASA’s first research center in Asia. IST is named after the penname of Cho Yang-ho, chairman of the school foundation. Cho also serves as chairman of Hanjin Group which operates the nation’s flagship carrier, Korean Air.

Choe visited the Langley Research Center (LaRC), NASA’s oldest lab specializing in aeronautics and aerospace research, from Nov. 9 to 11 to discuss ways to share experience and exchange personnel between the school and the center.

Before her visit, Robert Bryant, director of the Advanced Materials and Processing Branch of the LaRC, came to Korea in July to discuss bilateral cooperation. He also visited Korean Air’s Tech Center in Busan.

“Bryant suggested that Inha and NASA work together with the tech center to develop core aerospace technology,” Choe said.

Inha is scheduled to sign the Space Act Agreement (SAA) with the LaRC in February. The agreement, if concluded, will allow Inha University to get involved in NASA’s space development projects. NASA and the American government are looking into the completion of the contract.

“I dare hope our students could develop technologies that can be applied to NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission project,” Choe said.

“We plan to have 200 graduate students and 200 undergraduate students majoring in aerospace engineering, chemical engineering and materials science and engineering at the IST.”

Under the accord, LaRC researchers will come to Inha University to teach students during vacation and Inha students can go to the NASA research center in the U.S.

She said LaRC’s senior scientist, Sang Choi, who graduated from Inha University, came to the university to teach a class for three credits to about 40 students from July 2 to 18. He then was appointed adjunct professor at Inha University.

She added that the university plans to institute the program on a regular basis.

“We also plan to send about 20 students to NASA for at least six months to take part in state-of-the-art research projects with NASA researchers,” she said.

The cooperation between Inha and NASA is in line with Incheon Metropolitan City’s plan to establish an aerospace industrial-academic convergence district by 2020. Incheon Technopark, Inha University, Incheon International Airport and the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology are all taking part in the project.

Inha University also seeks to develop industrial-academic cooperation ties with global aircraft giants, Airbus and Boeing.

“Given that Boeing and Airbus, the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers, have shown interest in establishing the IST, we plan to suggest to them that they move their research centers into our joint laboratory,” said Kim Joo-hyung, a mechanical engineering professor at the university.

Korean Air’s Tech Center has already decided to join, according to Kim.

In November, Airbus contributed $9 million (10.2 billion won) to Inha University to help the school play a leading role in education and R&D for the aviation and aerospace industry. Part of the money will be used to build an industrial-academic cooperation center.

“Considering that the high-tech components industry is closely linked to aviation technology, I believe that adopting advanced technology from NASA, Airbus and other industry leaders could contribute to the development of the nation’s technology,” Kim added.

Inha is also trying to work together with Samsung Biologics in Songdo in order to strengthen biochemical and biopharmaceutical R&D.

“Combining chemical engineering and bioengineering can create a new synergy,” Choe said. “Samsung can take advantage of Inha University’s strengths in these sectors.”

She has pledged to cultivate quality human resources and provide them to Samsung and other leading companies in Songdo and other areas.

The university plans to open a Songdo campus in 2020 in a move to beef up its research activities.