Samsung Heavy, KAIST Launch Joint Center to Develop Next-Generation Shipbuilding Technologies

Samsung Heavy Industries has joined forces with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology to create a joint research center focused on advancing shipbuilding and maritime technologies. The opening ceremony for the SHI-KAIST Advanced Maritime Research Center took place at KAIST's main campus in Daejeon, with representatives from both institutions in attendance.

This new center aims to go beyond one-off projects and provide a permanent platform for joint research initiatives. Samsung Heavy Industries will leverage its expertise in shipbuilding and industrial know-how, while KAIST will contribute its advancements in artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, robotics, and digital technologies.

The center will concentrate on four key research areas: autonomous navigation and intelligent maritime AI; propulsion systems using low- and zero-carbon fuels; smart shipyards and digital manufacturing; and shipbuilding-specific robotics. By combining their respective strengths, the two institutions hope to accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies in these areas.

This partnership builds upon a 28-year history of collaboration between Samsung Heavy Industries and KAIST, involving over 1,000 joint research projects and various educational initiatives. With the growing emphasis on technological capabilities in the global shipbuilding industry, this collaboration represents a significant step forward in securing technological competitiveness and cultivating the next generation of talent in the field.