Government to Support 2.4Billion Won for University Research on Future Railway Technology

The railroad industry and the government will jointly support the development of creative human resources in future rail technology research based on the 4th Industrial Revolution technology such as AI and big data.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Railroad Corporation, Korea Railroad Research Institute, Hyundai Rotem, and Korean Council for University Education announced that they have signed an industry-university–research institute–public sector MOU to nurture young human resource who will lead future railroad technology.

The MOU was promoted since Korea is the 4th country in the world with high-speed rail vehicle manufacturing technology, but it now needs more R&D talent to target the 232 trillion won (as of 2018) sized global railway industry.

In particular, Korean universities’ training of railway human resources reflects the voices of the industry, saying that change of the paradigm is needed so that more diverse young researchers, as well as operating personnel, can research railroad technology in the future smart railroad industry.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has signed the agreement to create a virtuous cycle structure in which talented people who studied railway at university can achieve practical results through follow-up research in the industry. The Korea Council for University Education also participated in the agreement to promote systematic cooperation with universities.

The main contents of the agreement include: △ Discovering core technologies based on the demand of the railway industry △ Implementing a project-based R&D support plan for railroad technology in which universities take the initiative to induce railroad technology R&D △ Making a plan to lead follow-up research and development of results after the project

To implement the agreement, related organizations will form a working committee, and the railroad industry such as Korea Railroad Corporation and Korea Railroad Research Institute will raise funds and select a university to conduct pilot research through open recruitment of core research projects in the second half of this year. After providing 2.4 billion won to the selected university for three years, the government will establish a government-sponsored support plan to continue the research to sustainable subjects by selecting a Research Center where industry-university–research institute can be converged.

The Research Center will be set up in a team that outlines the demands of the railway industry, adopts a middle-up method in which the university freely proposes detailed research themes, and proposes challenging and innovative research.

Reported by 'Smart City Today'