On the 30th, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Pusan ​​National University's Hydrogen Ship Technology Center signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Technology Development and Demonstration Cooperation in the Lifecycle of the Hydrogen Industry.

The signing ceremony was held at the Hydrogen Ship Technology Center in the Nam-gu Marine Industry Cluster in Busan, attended by key officials from both parties, including Choi Jong-won, Director of KAI's Strategy Division, and Lee Je-myeong, Director of Pusan ​​National University's Hydrogen Ship Technology Center.

Under the MOU, KAI and the Hydrogen Ship Technology Center will pursue the following activities:

- Joint research and development and demonstration of materials and components for liquid hydrogen storage and supply;

- Mid- to long-term R&D planning and national policy coordination for hydrogen technology in the aerospace sector;

- Cooperation in establishing systems, basic technologies, and policies to secure hydrogen-based mobility technology;

- Training and exchange of experts through industry-academia-research collaboration; and,

- Establishing a foundation for international joint research and industrial ecosystem activation.

The collaboration between KAI, which possesses domestic aircraft development and manufacturing capabilities, and the Hydrogen Ship Technology Center, a specialized hydrogen R&D institute, is expected to generate synergy in the application of hydrogen technology in the aerospace sector.

KAI Headquarters Director Choi Jong-won stated, "This agreement is significant in that it expands hydrogen-based mobility technology to the aerospace sector. KAI will play a leading role in the development of eco-friendly hydrogen-based aircraft that emit no greenhouse gases, contributing to the realization of carbon neutrality in the aviation industry."

Director Lee Je-myeong said, "We are deeply honored to have signed a business agreement with a leading domestic aerospace company to collaborate on eco-friendly hydrogen technology. We will do our best to advance the full-cycle technology of the hydrogen industry, focusing on mobility, and to build a cooperative relationship."

Meanwhile, KAI is contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by building solar power plants and practicing resource recycling for electronic devices and products to address global climate change. Leveraging its aircraft development capabilities, KAI is also strengthening its carbon-neutral strategy by pursuing research and development of eco-friendly aircraft.

Since May 2023, KAI has participated in the "Advanced Mobility Pilot Project" of the "Regional Innovation Mega Project," hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and supported by the Korea Research and Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation. Through this project, KAI is advancing the foundational technology for eco-friendly hydrogen fuel cell aircraft. The Advanced Mobility Pilot Porject is a technology research project for the development of a future commuter aircraft (a 19-passenger short-distance intercity round-trip passenger aircraft) utilizing a hydrogen fuel cell-based hybrid distributed electric propulsion system.

The core technologies for next-generation commuter aircraft, including hydrogen fuel cell hybrid power systems and distributed electric propulsion systems, are expected to be widely utilized in KAI's mid- to long-term core projects, including the international joint development of eco-friendly civil aircraft, manned-unmanned hybrid systems, and future air vehicles.