KSOE opens R&D center in Germany for future technology

Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), the intermediate holding company of the world’s top shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, opened a research and development center in Germany to secure technology for future eco-friendly vessels.

The R&D center, located in Dusseldorf, is set to develop the next-generation technology on hydrogen, fuel cell, ammonia and electric propulsion, etc. in cooperation with global research institutes, KSOE said on Tuesday. It aims to expand the technology cooperation network into other European countries such as the UK and Norway.

“We aim to lead the next-generation technology that will be applied to future ships through the R&D center,” said a KSOE source in Seoul. The shipbuilder also plans to seek excellent research talent through the center while expanding its global R&D infrastructure, the source added.

KSOE also started joint research with German RWTH Aachen University on the next-generation propulsion systems for large vessels that use eco-friendly fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia.

KSOE has been in talks for collaborations with other leading R&D centers in Europe on the hydrogen and fuel cell sectors including the In­sti­tute of Mar­itime En­er­gy Sys­tems under the German Aerospace Center (DRL).

The shipbuilder actively expanded its R&D network around the world. In 2019, it set up a technology center in Pune, India, for research in various fields such as the structures and vibrations of ships and other products.

Write to Ik-Hwan Kim at lovepen@hankyung.com
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.