Institute to collaborate with UNIST, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. [Herald DB]
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. [Herald DB]

The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology announced Wednesday it has been selected to lead a laser nuclear fusion research project under the Ministry of Science and ICT's "Fusion Plug-in Program."

The project aims to secure core technologies in laser nuclear fusion — a field drawing growing attention as a future clean energy technology — and build a domestic research foundation in the area.

GIST will receive 5.8 billion won (about $3.82 million) in research and development funding and carry out the project over 57 months through 2030. The principal investigator is Kim Hyung-taek, a senior researcher at GIST's Advanced Photonics Research Institute and director of its Ultra-Intense Laser Plasma Applications Research Center.

GIST will serve as the lead institution, with the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute as partner organizations. Korea University's Sejong campus and Chosun University will also join as collaborators, pooling domestic laser nuclear fusion research capabilities.

The project seeks to validate a new approach to nuclear fusion distinct from the tokamak method — currently the mainstream in fusion research — and to secure the core technologies needed to realize a future fusion power plant.

"This selection marks an important milestone for advancing domestic laser nuclear fusion research to the next level," Kim said. "We will work closely with our collaborators to secure key technologies and contribute to building a foundation for Korean-style laser nuclear fusion research."


sij@heraldcorp.com