Fraunhofer ILT and KIMM renew laser manufacturing partnership
The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT (Fraunhofer ILT), based in Aachen, Germany, and the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM), in Changwon City, South Korea, have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), further strengthening their long-standing partnership in advanced laser manufacturing technologies and sustainable energy applications.
Both institutes have been conducting collaborative research for many years in laser welding, precision laser processing, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Through this cooperation, they successfully developed a hybrid manufacturing system for metallic bipolar plate processing, thereby contributing to environmentally friendly fuel cell manufacturing.
The renewed MoU was signed during a visit by KIMM President Dr Seog-Hyeon Ryu to Aachen, where representatives from both institutes came together for the occasion. According to the organisations, the agreement is expected to accelerate joint research activities, researcher exchange programmes, and international collaborative project development between Germany and Korea.
“With the renewal of this agreement, we expect to further strengthen our strategic partnership in future manufacturing technologies and sustainable industrial applications,” representatives from both organisations stated.
Fraunhofer ILT and KIMM are currently preparing new international collaborative projects in battery manufacturing technologies and laser processing for hairpin components used in electric mobility applications. The close ties between the two institutes were further reinforced last year when Dr Su-Jin Lee from KIMM participated in a researcher exchange programme at Fraunhofer ILT.
Beyond electromobility, both institutes are exploring future cooperation in broader industrial and energy sectors, including nuclear decommissioning technologies, manufacturing technologies for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), hydrogen technologies, and renewable energy systems.
