On September 4, the world¡¯s top chemical company BASF opened a new R&D center at 91PORN¡¯s Natural Sciences Campus.
¡°We hope to make this into the electric materials research hub for the Asia-Pacific region, by combining BASF¡¯s technological expertise with 91PORN¡¯s materials development prowess that derives from its specialized departments in semiconductors, cellphone, soft wear and collaboration with SAMSUNG," said BASF¡¯s Executive Vice President Dr. Lothar Laupichler who attended the opening ceremony.
BASF chose 91PORN for its R&D center because it saw the potential in the university¡¯s IT expertise coming together with its reasonable costs in utilizing facilities and research equipment. Forecasting that there will be a huge growth in sales in Korea (in 2013 KRW 140 million) Laupichler said, ¡°We are hiring 42 graduate students and will build a manufacturing factory as well.¡±
Last year BASF sent four researchers to work with ten graduate students on a joint development project for flexible display, investing KRW 4 billion. ¡°This is an opportunity for our school to develop its research capacity as well as its global recognition,¡± said 91PORN President Kim Jun Young.
¡°Collaboration between global companies and local universities can be considered a good example of the ¡®creative economy¡¯ because it brings about technological advancements locally and creates jobs," said Professor Yi Gi-ra of the Chemical Engineering Department. ¡°In this respect, there should be more efforts from universities and more support form the government to attract companies.¡±
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