□ On October 22, the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST; President Lee Kunwoo) announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with automotive part manufacturer Motonic (CEOs Kim Hee-jin and Shin Hyun-don) to promote artificial intelligence transformation (AX) in the semiconductor industry.
□ Under the agreement, the two organizations plan to discuss the following as key areas of cooperation: establishing and operating a joint research organization to promote AX; technological innovation by integrating their existing technologies with AX; establishing a foundation for AX technology development and reliability verification; and promoting on-site verification and commercialization of developed technologies. In accordance with the agreement's objective of promoting AX in the semiconductor industry, the two organizations plan to explore ways to establish a foundation for joint research while also examining potential new business opportunities in robotics and AI data centers that leverage Motonic’s existing capabilities.
□ With this agreement as a beginning point, the two organizations plan to pursue joint research planning in robotic actuators and AI data center cooling systems, based on Motonic's experience in automotive parts development and mass production and DGIST's research capabilities. Using these efforts, they plan to explore opportunities to enter new business areas.
□ Established in 1974, Motonic has supplied automotive parts, including LPG fuel system components, to automakers in Korea and abroad. More recently, the company has been expanding its business into electrification- and hydrogen-related parts.
□ DGIST President Lee Kunwoo stated, "We will actively cooperate to address challenges at manufacturing sites and promote industrial AX by combining Motonic's manufacturing experience with DGIST's research capabilities in robotics and semiconductors."
□ "By combining our precision control technology and mass production experience accumulated over many years with DGIST's research capabilities in AI and robotics, we will establish a new foundation for growth," stated Motonic CEO Shin Hyun-don. "We will actively utilize this agreement to ensure that it leads to tangible research outcomes."
