Splash247: Busan launches marine AI materials research hub

Published by Splash247

Busan is setting up a new research centre to apply artificial intelligence to marine materials, shipbuilding processes and digital twin technology.

The Busan Metropolitan Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Pukyong National University and the Korea Institute of Materials Science to establish the Marine AI Materials Research Center.

The centre will be located at Pukyong National University’s Yongdang Campus, where an advanced laboratory building will be converted into a 615 sq m research space by October. Full operations are scheduled to begin next year.

The facility will operate under a “one centre, three laboratories” model. The Marine AI Energy Materials Laboratory will use AI to design eco-friendly energy materials, as well as corrosion- and fouling-resistant materials for marine use.

The Marine AI Process Automation Laboratory will focus on smart shipbuilding production processes, including hull painting robots and autonomous mobile vehicles. The Marine AI Component Performance Evaluation Laboratory will work on lifespan prediction for smart components using maintenance data, as well as digital twin-based verification technology.

Busan will provide administrative support and help attract national funding and large-scale regional R&D projects. Pukyong National University will provide research space and lead industry-academia cooperation, while the Korea Institute of Materials Science will develop source technologies for advanced marine materials.

The city said the centre is intended to help shift Busan’s marine industry from traditional manufacturing towards an AI-based advanced industrial ecosystem.

Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said the centre would become “key infrastructure for Busan to leap forward as a global maritime capital”. A host of top South Korean shipowners have relocated to Busan recently.