Two top winners to receive 10 million won each

Winning lead authors exempt from document screening in KAI hiring

Winners to be announced in early November, awards ceremony in late November

A poster for the 24th Aerospace Paper Award competition. [Korea Aerospace Industries]
A poster for the 24th Aerospace Paper Award competition. [Korea Aerospace Industries]

Korea Aerospace Industries announced Thursday that it has begun accepting submissions for its 24th Aerospace Paper Award competition, with entries open as of Monday.

Hosted by KAI and sponsored by the Korea AeroSpace Administration, the Korea Aerospace Industries Promotion Association and the Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences, the competition has run for more than two decades with the aim of identifying and nurturing talent in the aerospace industry.

Any undergraduate or graduate student in South Korea with an interest in the aerospace field is eligible to submit a paper.

This year, KAI expanded the prize pool to encourage academic research among aspiring aerospace professionals. The two top prizes — the KASA Administrator Award and the KAI CEO Award — each carry 10 million won ($7,240), an increase of 5 million won from the previous year. Two excellence award winners will each receive 5 million won, also up 1 million won from last year.

Winning lead authors will also receive an exemption from the document-screening stage when applying for KAI's open recruitment of new employees.

Submissions are accepted across five categories: mechanical engineering, materials and processes, electronics and electrical engineering, software, and policy and management. Applicable project areas span KAI's core future businesses, including manned-unmanned teaming systems, next-generation software, next-generation platforms covering fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and commercial aircraft, space solutions, and advanced air vehicles.

KAI and the Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences will jointly evaluate submissions. Winners will be announced in early November, with an awards ceremony to follow in late November.

"The aerospace industry is not only a core future industry with limitless growth potential but also a key driver of national competitiveness, making the cultivation and support of talent essential," KAI President Kim Jong-chul said. "The expanded prize pool reflects that conviction, and KAI will lead by example in building a thriving ecosystem that draws more young and talented people into the aerospace field."


keg@heraldcorp.com