Nuclear power, battery, steel. BUT deepens cooperation with Korean partners

Further development of cooperation between Brno University of Technology (BUT) and Korean companies and institutions was confirmed by the signing of three memoranda during the visit of a Korean delegation led by South Korean President Jun Sok-jool to the Czech Republic on 20 September. The memoranda cover research in thermal processes, the development of battery technologies, and the expansion of existing cooperation in the nuclear field.

"It was impressive and symbolic to sign the memoranda during the Czech-Korean Forum in Prague and later in Pilsen, in the presence of the President of South Korea and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. Cooperation with South Korea, one of the world's technological superpowers, presents a great challenge for the university, and it is necessary to actively embrace it," said Ladislav Janíček, Rector of BUT.

The first memorandum builds on 20 years of cooperation in thermal processes between the Korean company POSCO (Pohang Iron and Steel Company) and BUT. “Controlled cooling at high temperatures is the main focus of our collaboration to improve the quality and efficiency of continuous steel casting and rolling production. The signed agreement will intensify research into the surface properties of materials and explore the potential for increasing the efficiency of Li-ion batteries," said Miroslav Raudenský from the Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Laboratory at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at BUT, who is the lead expert overseeing the cooperation.

The partnership also includes long-term internships and training for doctoral students and BUT employees at POSCO, as well as reciprocal internships for POSCO employees in BUT laboratories.

The strategic area of battery technology is the focus of another document, signed by representatives from the Czech Battery Cluster, KEIT (Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology), KETI (Korea Electronics Technology Institute), and BUT.

“The memorandum outlines joint Czech-Korean activities in this field, including educational programs and shared use of research infrastructure," explained Tomáš Kazda from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Technology at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication (FEEC BUT). Kazda is also Chairman of the Czech Battery Cluster, which brings together domestic organizations involved in the battery value chain, including BUT.

To present another memorandum related to Czech-Korean cooperation in nuclear technologies, representatives of BUT traveled to Pilsen, where the South Korean President's visit continued at the Doosan Škoda Power factory. Representatives from other Czech technical universities that educate nuclear experts were also present. In Pilsen, turbines for the new units of the Dukovany power plant, for which the Korean KHNP was selected through a tender, will be constructed in the coming years.

This major investment, the largest in Czech history, will require not only industrial capacity but also a significant number of highly qualified professionals. BUT is responding to this societal need. "We have recently introduced a two-year, industry-oriented Master’s degree program in Nuclear Power Engineering, and in partnership with the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS), we are establishing a Czech-Korean Nuclear Collaboration Centre (NCC) at FEEC BUT through a memorandum," said Karel Katovský from the Department of Electrical Power Engineering at FEEC BUT, who also coordinates the university’s nuclear activities.

"Within the NCC, we plan to coordinate student exchange programs and internships at Korean universities and companies, organize winter and summer schools in both the Czech Republic and South Korea, and host expert lectures on APR nuclear technology, management in the nuclear industry, and nuclear and radiation safety. We will also emphasize practical education, such as using nuclear power plant simulators, and promote the development of promising nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors," added Katovský.

"We have a longstanding collaboration with KINGS University. Currently, five BUT students are enrolled in their Master’s program, and 20 graduates have completed exchange programs. We expect this partnership to be significantly strengthened as the expansion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant moves forward," said Rector Janíček. He concluded: "In addition to the areas covered by the memoranda, we foresee further cooperation with Korean partners in other fields, such as semiconductor technologies, electromobility, hydrogen technologies, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity."