UNIST Welcomes UK’s Connected Places Catapult and Birmingham Universities for Collaboration

A delegation of 11 researchers from the UK’s Connected Places Catapult (CPC) and three universities in Birmingham—University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, and Aston University—visited UNIST on February 12, 2025.

UNIST International Affairs Team hosted this event at Yebong Hall, aiming to foster advanced technology and sustainable industrial development through joint research between South Korea and the UK.

Centered around the DIATOMIC Project, which assists small and medium-sized enterprises in enhancing their competitiveness through the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, the event marked the beginning of collaboration between the universities.

Over ten faculty members from UNIST and researchers from Birmingham universities discussed potential collaborations across five key areas: medical and health technology, green technology, advanced manufacturing and industrial symbiosis, smart cities, and circular economy.

During a focused 70-minute discussion session, participants shared insights on the latest research trends and developed practical collaboration strategies. The attendees also visited UNIST’s Device Analysis Lab in Building 102 and the NanoFab in Building 108, experiencing the institute’s cutting-edge research environment.

Professor Byoung Ki Seo, Dean of Business Administration at UNIST, stated, “Birmingham is a center of heavy industry in the UK, sharing many similarities with Ulsan. This partnership will create opportunities for both cities to lead the future together. We plan to discover various collaboration models, including joint R&D and talent exchange programs.”

With this event as a starting point, both institutions look forward to sustaining their partnership and generating innovative research outcomes that align with the social and industrial needs of both countries.