When Korea IT Times visited the Korea RFID/USN Center (www.ruc.or.kr) in 2008, President of the Center, Shin Sang-chul (ssc@ruc.or.kr), shared his ambition to produce as many RFID chips as there are grains of sand on the coast of Incheon. As of today, the RFID export rate is 130 billion won per year. Until last year, cost was a major hindering factor for allowing RFID from fully flourishing, but this has been taken care of. The current price of the RFID chip is 6-7 cents. Now progress is being made regarding the matter of privacy protection and information.
"Within 2-3 years, the price is expected to drop further to 5 cents. The RFID business is already expanding from B2B to B2C. Mobile RFID chips and applications are blossoming and readers are portable. The Samsung Galaxy S smartphone is already designed to place the RFID reader at the back of the phone. With an antennae, the phone can receive 13.56 MHz WiFi service on demand. The next version of iPhone 4G will change the back cover from an iron plate to plastic, so that it can be used with the RFID tag reader. It is evident that RFID/USN will be the core technology of the Smart Era which buckles safety, efficiency, health, and happiness of its people," said Shin Sang-chul, President of the RFID USN Center (RUC).
The rapid growth of RFID/USN technology is all credited to RUC. RUC has been in every step of RFID manufacturing for companies at any size. RUC's undying support has been covering various areas from manufacturing pilots to issuing certification of authentication at a low cost. About 3,000 companies come to RUC from home and abroad to be tested for certification of authentication. Japanese companies often come to RUC to gain global authentication. RUC has also been renting out the RFID manufacturing and testing equipments to SMEs at very affordable costs. All these brought a flood of RFID convergence to Korean industries and market.
Shin Sang-chul, the President of the RFID/USN Center, states the trend of RFID/USN's capacity and explains the Center's distinct role in future development.
Smart Life and Smart Society via Mobile RFID Services
Mobile RFID signifies mobile phones with a built-in RFID reader chip which works as a RFID reader. Due to this mobile RFID, companies can adopt a RFID system at a low cost. SK Telecom and KT announced that they would unveil RFID smartphones in the second half of this year. This means that full-blown RFID services will be provided through partnerships with discount stores, convenience stores, vending machines, movie theaters and theme parks.
Once smartphone users put their RFID-equipped smartphones against tags attached to menus, they can choose an item, pay and receive it all at the same time. As such, mobile RFID will make our life smarter and vibrant. Through the application of the mobile RFID system, smart life and smart society can be realized. A case in point is Incheon International Airport's RFID logistics system (the first in the world): mobile RFID is utilized to manage Incheon International Airport's system for logistics and distribution information. By applying mobile RFID technology to all kinds of cargoes bound for other nations, Incheon International Airport has succeeded in appreciably cutting logistics costs and real-time-management.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. is embracing RFID as well. It is working on a project to share real-time distribution information with raw material providers and other pharmaceutical companies via electronic tags attached to pharmaceutical production and raw materials. By doing so, automation of ordering raw materials and delivery will be achieved to efficiently manage the production process.
2010 RFID/USN has Taken a Sharp Turn
The RUC, based on RFID/USN -- MEMS-related cutting-edge infrastructure -- is offering both RFID/USN one-stop support services and MEMS foundry services. RFID/USN Total Support Office-- which provides professional technical support based on wide-ranging infrastructures, from R&D on RFID/USN to production of prototype products-- is focused on BMT (Benchmark Test) services that are RFID/USN application tests designed for the government, local self-governing entities and general companies. To make high-quality products and systems widely available and boost exports of domestic products, the RUC is working hard to be internationally certified as an official RFID/US-related testing institution and certifier. In addition, the MEMS Fab, which mass-produces MEMS based on the only 8-inch wafer in Korea, offers MEMS R&D and foundry (contract production) services and is developing technologies for a wide range of MEMS devices including pressure and acceleration sensors.
Achievements in RFID/USN and MEMS
The RFID/USN Center was founded in March of 2006, jointly invested by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Incheon Metropolitan City, to promote RFID/USN and MEMS's sensor industry. In June of 2008, RFID/USN & MEMS sensor infrastructure was built in Songdo in the Incheon Free Economic Zone. Since then, the RUC has been providing related services.
Since its inception, the RUC has continuously invested in various equipments to ultimately provide customized services. The RFID/USN Business Division has been officially recognized as Asia's first EPC global ATC testing institution for static/dynamic tests. In addition, in the environment and credibility category, the RUC has attained the KOLAS (Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme) accreditation. To get more parts of the RUC's business certified, the final stage of screening is underway. Through the ROU's test certification services, Korean companies can enhance the credibility of their RFID/USN products and have more opportunities for foreign market entry. The RUC believes that it will consequently spur up the Korean RFID/USN industry.
In the MEMS field, the RUC has built a MEMS processing line that is based on an 8-inch wafer and earned ISO9001 (a quality management standard) and 14001 (an environment management standard), thereby offering high-quality products and services that live up to international standards. Based on the RUC's MEMS mass production facilities and custom-tailored services, the RUC has struck NDAs (non-disclosure agreement) with nearly 57 companies: as of now, manufacturing and product development are underway with several products on track to be churned out in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, the RUC has annually launched seminars and educational meetings on RFID/USN and MEMS, conducted surveys of the RFID/USN industry and made predictions for future demand of MEMS so as to provide an array of information that can actually help customers' businesses.
Becoming a Global RFID/USN Testing Institution and a Certifier
The RUC has continued to adopt international testing and certification systems and programs in a bid to grow into a global RFID/USN tester and certifier. Basically, through the expansion of KOLAS accreditation, a total of three more sectors will be certified: one in the existing categories regarding environment and credibility as well as others in the fixed/wireless communications devices and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) category. In addition, the RUC, certified as an international product certification institution, is building a world-class testing and certification system. The RUC's acquisition of the right to certify products by international standards, KSA ISO Guide 65 has boosted the credibility of the RUC's certification program.
Taking advantage of such certifications, the RUC has been designated as a global EPC certifier in charge of the Asia-Pacific region and a mobile RFID official testing institution. At the moment, the RUC is making all-out efforts to be certified as an official RFID/USN testing institution by the Near Field Communication (NFC) Forum, a non-profit industry association that promotes the use of NFC short-range wireless interaction, and DASH-7 Alliance (a consortium of leading wireless industry players). From now on, the RUC will do its best to entrench itself as a leading global RFID/USN testing and certification institution through engaging in diverse international activities.
