UCL and KIAT launch UK’s first industrial tech research center focused on UK–South Korea collaboration
Prof Geraint Rees, Vice Provost of Research, Innovation and Global Engagement and Ms Yunjin Lee, Senior Deputy Director, Industry Technology Policy Division, MOTIE, Photo credit: UCL
University College London (UCL) has announced the launch of the UK’s first Global Industrial Technology Cooperation Centre (GITCC), in collaboration with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT).
The initiative will support joint research and development between UK and Korean partners in advanced propulsion and sustainable mobility technologies.
UCL, a London-based research university, will host the center as part of its Innovation & Enterprise division. The GITCC will operate as a cross-faculty platform with leadership from UCL’s Faculty of Engineering Sciences. The project will support Korean industry, academic, and government collaboration with UCL researchers, with an initial focus on hydrogen propulsion systems and decarbonizing ocean shipping.
Industry-focused collaboration platform
The GITCC is designed to serve as a gateway for Korean companies and institutions to access UK research infrastructure and expertise. UCL says it will also work to align the center’s industrial partnerships with Korea’s national innovation strategy while exploring collaboration opportunities with other UK universities and businesses.
KIAT Director General Sungjin Baik says, “We are delighted that UCL will host the GITCC. I have been deeply impressed by the strong commitment of UCL’s leadership and the extensive experience of their staff in translating cutting-edge research into real-world impact. Their expertise in the commercialisation of R&D makes UCL an ideal partner to advance global innovation and collaboration.”
UCL to coordinate cross-border innovation strategy
The university’s research team will lead projects across land, sea, air, and space, with an emphasis on future transportation infrastructure and propulsion systems. According to UCL, the GITCC will act as both a collaboration platform and a mechanism for securing future investment from Korean companies into UK-based industrial R&D.
Professor Geraint Rees, Vice Provost of Research, Innovation and Global Engagement at UCL, says, “UCL’s involvement in the GITCC exemplifies our commitment to lead and support transformative global research that bridges countries and disciplines, and addresses urgent global challenges. It is a landmark achievement in international academic-industry collaboration.”
Professor Jeom-Kee Paik, Director of the UCL-Korea GITCC and Professor of Marine Technology, says, “We are honoured to have been awarded the UCL-Korea GITCC. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in UCL's collaboration with Korean industry, one grounded in mutual trust, innovation, and shared ambition. With the depth of UCL's research expertise and the strength of our world-class facilities, we are committed to making the Centre a global hub for cooperation in advanced industrial technologies. We are deeply grateful to MOTIE and KIAT for their confidence and support, and we will do our utmost to deliver impact and excellence.”
