Pukyong National University

PKNU, the only university in Korea selected for 40 billion KRW advanced industry specialization in 2 fields

- specializing in secondary batteries with Kumyang co., ltd., and semiconductors with Gyeongsang national university to foster advanced talent

Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) has been selected for both secondary batteries and semiconductors in the 'advanced industry specialized university support project' announced by the Ministry of education and the Korea institute for advancement of technology on July 4.

Pukyong National University is the only university in the nation to be selected in both fields for this project, which supports bachelor’s degree talent nurturing as a core basis for advanced industry talent development, being chosen for the 'secondary battery specialized university support project' as an independent type and the 'semiconductor specialized university support project' as a co-growth type support university.

As a result of this selection, Pukyong National University will receive intensive financial support totaling 40 billion KRW for up to four years, enabling the establishment of a system for nurturing advanced talent and the expansion of educational infrastructure, including curriculum, faculty, and practice equipment, thereby enhancing its competitiveness in advanced industries.

In the independently selected 'secondary battery specialized university support project', Pukyong National University will receive 12 billion KRW over four years to nurture practical, regionally connected secondary battery specialized personnel in the field of 'secondary battery process and material technology' (project leader professor Oh Pil-Gun). To achieve this, the university plans to establish the 'department of energy convergence technology engineering', the nation’s first industry-academic integrated major, in collaboration with Kumyang co., ltd., a leading company in the secondary battery field.

This department will nurture industry-friendly personnel through a specialized convergence curriculum in secondary battery processes and materials, and a secondary battery specialized industry-academic innovation laboratory is also being established at the Yongdang campus. Kumyang co., ltd. has committed 800 million KRW in private matching funds as scholarships.

Additionally, Pukyong National University, in partnership with Gyeongsang national university, was selected as a co-growth type in the non-metropolitan area for the 'semiconductor specialized university support project', receiving a total of 28 billion KRW in national funds over four years. Pukyong National University will specialize in the field of 'core materials and processes for high-reliability semiconductor packaging' (project leader, professor Lee Ji-Yeol), while Gyeongsang national university will focus on 'semiconductor packaging design and process, and analysis on semiconductor reliability' (project leader, professor Kang Seok-Geun), with plans to nurture specialized personnel in extreme environment semiconductor packaging and testing over the next four years.

Pukyong National University had previously formed partnerships with semiconductor companies BtoZ, OXIDE from Korea and Japan last year, and signed an industry-academic cooperation MOU with semiconductor packaging material company Duksan Hi-metal co., ltd. earlier this year. Additionally, the university expanded the department of nanotechnology engineering into the division of nano semiconductor engineering, establishing majors in Nano-tech engineering and next-generation semiconductor engineering, with both majors notably being selected for this project, positioning the university to accelerate the nurturing of convergent talents in advanced fields.

President Jang Young-Soo of Pukyong National University said, "We will do our best to fulfill our role as a central institution in nurturing core regional and national talents in the advanced strategic industries of semiconductors and secondary batteries." <Pukyong Today>