K-water signs MOU with Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology on water satellite and digital water management research cooperation

Ku Ja-young (left), head of K-water's planning division, and Olivier Guillon (right), director of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, pose after signing an MOU in Luxembourg on May 27 local time. [K-water]
Ku Ja-young (left), head of K-water's planning division, and Olivier Guillon (right), director of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, pose after signing an MOU in Luxembourg on May 27 local time. [K-water]

Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) on May 27 local time, the state-run water authority announced Sunday, formalizing cooperation in water satellite technology, digital water management and European research partnerships.

The agreement is part of K-water's broader strategy to deepen European cooperation, aimed at expanding the foundation for joint research with leading European institutions in climate change response and the digital transformation of water management.

Under the MOU, the two organizations plan to develop concrete cooperation agendas across five areas: satellite-based flood and drought monitoring, climate change response, AI- and IoT-based digital water management, joint participation in Horizon Europe, and researcher exchanges.

Horizon Europe is the EU's largest research and innovation program, designed to advance scientific and technological innovation, address global societal challenges and strengthen industrial competitiveness.

Through the partnership, K-water plans to combine its accumulated expertise in water satellites and digital twin technology with LIST's capabilities in climate change monitoring and AI data integration, seeking to generate synergies in international cooperation for climate crisis response in the water sector.

K-water intends to use this cooperative framework to pursue full participation in Horizon Europe and expand its network of collaboration with leading technology nations through international joint research.

The effort builds on an MOU K-water signed with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) on satellite cooperation in 2024. The corporation also plans to strengthen ties with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, which oversees Horizon Europe, and the Danish Meteorological Institute, with the aim of becoming a global hub for water sector research and development.

"This agreement marks an important turning point in building a genuine international joint research framework to respond to the accelerating digital transformation in an era of climate crisis," said Ku Ja-young, K-water's head of planning. "Going forward, we will lead global innovation in water sector research and development through joint participation in Horizon Europe and collaboration with diverse research institutions and industry partners across Europe."


thlee@heraldcorp.com