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| Sungkyunkwan University President Shin Dong-ryeol, left, and Samsung SDI CEO Choi Yoon-ho hold a copy of a signed memorandum of understanding at the university, Nov. 11. Courtesy of Samsung SDI |
By Lee Kyung-min
Samsung SDI, the battery manufacturing affiliate of Samsung Group, and Sungkyunkwan University will establish joint courses whereby 100 young promising undergrads will be educated and trained to develop their interests and careers in the secondary battery industry over the next decade, the firm said Sunday.
The program is the latest in a series of future growth strategies outlined by the firm, after it agreed to set up similar programs with Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Hanyang University last year.
The corporate vision is in line with government efforts to make Korea-produced batteries account for at least 40 percent of the global market share by 2030, as assisted by the establishment of an intergovernmental alliance to secure key battery materials, fostering a sustainable industrial ecosystem and the expansion of tax credits.
The partnership between industry and academia will grant top undergrads scholarships to earn master's and doctoral degrees, a step toward becoming global experts in the fields of battery materials, cells and systems.
They will be given opportunities to conduct research while taking academic courses, and to apply for training programs as well as run in competitions organized by Samsung SDI.
Those who complete the courses will be granted scholarships while in the degree programs, and will be hired by the firm upon graduation.
Samsung SDI CEO Choi Yoon-ho vowed to make the investment to foster talented young professionals.
"Technology and human resources are the two most important factors for us to become a global leader by 2030," he said. "We will increase support of and investment in young people who will lead the battery industry in the years to come."
Select top-performing students will be given scholarships over the next ten years and will begin their careers at Samsung SDI upon graduation.
The trade ministry said on Nov. 1 that public-private partnerships will be fortified to help advance mineral resourcing, refining and smelting, key areas in which many local firms lack experience and expertise compared to their global competitors.
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