The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) announced today that it has signed memorandum of understandings with representative research institutes in Germany, a European powerhouse in the field of machine technology, and Lithuania, a country with excellent original mechanical technology.
On May 9 in local time, Dr. Park Sang-jin, the president of KIMM, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) focusing on the field of laser light sources with the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC) located in Lithuania, a country renowned for its original mechanical technologies.
After the signing of MoU,the President Park and KIMM delegation went on to visit the Latvian Ministry of the Economy and Innovation to discuss future cooperation with the Vice Minister JovitaNeliupšienė.
“Lithuanian government considers the Republic of Korea as an important potential partner for scientific technology cooperation," said Vice Minister JovitaNeliupšienė. “hopes to facilitate more cooperation with KIMM in the field of advanced manufacturing equipmentthrough this meeting.”
With the FTMC MoU, KIMM has established a foothold for research cooperation with three Baltic countries, which boast excellent original mechanical technology.
In addition, KIMM President Park and KIMM researchers visited the Institute of Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering at Riga Technical University (MMI RTU) and the Institute of Solid State Physics at the University of Latvia (ISP UL).
During these visits, they discussed plans for cooperation in KIMM’s main research areas, including advanced production equipment and nanotechnology.
In 2018, after signing an agreement with the Czech Technical University in Prague and theHiLASE Center, the laser research center at the Czech Academy of Sciences, and conducting joint research, KIMM paved the way for research cooperation with the Eastern European region.
By expanding the international cooperation network to Lithuania and Latvia, KIMM has broadened the foundation for cooperation with Baltic States, strong players in basic mechanical technology research.
Prior to the visits in Lithuania and Latvia, KIMM President Park had signed the agreements with two German research institutes.
On Thursday, May 5 in local time, KIMM signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute of Laser Technology (Fraunhofer ILT), with goal of identifying possible joint research topics for further future joint researches.
Over the past years, KIMM has strengthened cooperation with Germany, a powerhouse in traditional machine technology, in the fields of machine tools and lasers.
In 2018, the Hanover Laser Center (LZH) was designated as a reference institution for overseas joint research by KIMM. In the following year, a research memorandum of understanding was signed, and continuing cooperation efforts have been made in cutting-edge laser processing technology.
“International joint research opportunities conducted by KIMM will be promoted even further through the expansion of cooperative efforts with Germany and Baltic countries, where mechanical technology has been traditionally dominant," KIMM President Park added. “KIMM will continue to develop technologies that are helpful to domestic companies and other industries through exchanges of KIMM’s industrial, demand-based application technologies with the original mechanical technology partners of European countries."
