By Lee Jeong-hwan, Reporter at Korea University News, November 3, 2024
Ulsan University (President Oh Yeon-cheon) announced on November 1st that it has signed a mutual research and development cooperation agreement with Firefly Energy (Managing Director Tolke Nacken), a global energy company invested by Equinor, Ulsan University Hospital, and marine exploration specialist company Geoview Co., Ltd. (CEO Kim Hyun-do) at the university’s faculty conference room.
According to the agreement, the cooperation will cover three areas: technology development (Ulsan University, Firefly Energy, Geoview), medical service support (Ulsan University, Ulsan University Hospital, Firefly Energy), and next-generation workforce development (Ulsan University, Firefly Energy), with the aim of maximizing the results of industry-academia collaboration utilizing the infrastructure of Ulsan University and Ulsan University Hospital.
Earlier, in August, Ulsan University and Firefly Energy signed an agreement in Oslo, Norway, at Equinor’s Fornebu Office to secure a regional industry development fund of 1 billion KRW as part of the Glocal University initiative. Based on this agreement, Ulsan University and Firefly Energy agreed to strengthen their cooperation to promote Ulsan University’s Glocal University initiative and the floating offshore wind power project in Ulsan, and this agreement is part of that effort.
Through this agreement, for technology development, Geoview Co., Ltd. will collaborate with Ulsan University’s Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering to conduct research and development of a floating offshore wind maintenance program using unmanned underwater drones (ROV), optimize robotic operating systems, and perform demonstration studies. Ulsan University will also participate in the Glocal University regional industry development fund with 180 million KRW.
In the field of medical service support, Ulsan University Hospital will collaborate with Firefly Energy to develop customized health check-up programs and telemedicine systems for floating offshore wind maintenance personnel by utilizing the hospital’s medical staff and infrastructure.
In the field of next-generation workforce development, Firefly Energy will appoint offshore wind experts as faculty members at the university through the Joint Appointment (JA) system, involving field experts in the university’s research and education programs to support research and development.
President Oh Yeon-cheon of Ulsan University stated, “This agreement will be a new example of industry-academia collaboration that comprehensively supports business activities by mobilizing the university’s research, medical technology, and workforce development capabilities.”
Tolke Nacken, Managing Director of Firefly Energy, also responded, saying, “This is a great opportunity for mutual growth with regional universities, hospitals, and partners.”
Source: Korea University News (https://news.unn.net)
