South Korea's chemical research institute marks 50 years of homegrown innovation

- From oxygen-based bleach to antibiotics and semiconductor materials, KRICT has led South Korea's push for chemical self-reliance

- Institute unveils '2040 Vision,' pledging to answer the world's hardest questions through chemistry

Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology President Shin Seok-min delivers a commemorative address at the institute's 50th anniversary ceremony on Tuesday. [KRICT]

The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) is marking its 50th anniversary this year, having spent half a century at the forefront of South Korea's drive to develop homegrown chemical technologies — from antibiotics to semiconductor materials.

KRICT held a 50th anniversary ceremony at its headquarters in Daejeon on Tuesday, reflecting on five decades of research achievements and unveiling a new "2040 Vision" to guide the institute through the next half-century.

KRICT was founded in 1976 as a privately led research institute, established through the collective effort of 136 domestic companies.

Starting from a temporary office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the institute relocated to Daedeok in Daejeon the following year. Beginning with its first building in 1978, KRICT threw itself into developing the chemical technologies the industrial sector needed — working out of just four buildings with limited staff and equipment.

The institute's 50-year history has run in parallel with South Korea's broader effort to localize key materials and process technologies.

A view of the research institute completed in April 1978. [KRICT]

KRICT localized a series of core technologies that South Korea had heavily relied on imports for — beginning with oxygen-based bleach in 1984, followed by a polybutene manufacturing process in 1994 and high-performance polyimide materials in 2005.

In 1996, the institute developed "Sunbong," South Korea's first domestically produced agrochemical. In 2004, it introduced "Pripenem," the world's first generic version of the imipenem antibiotic. The institute continued that track record in 2021 with the development of "Inobellin," a treatment for HIV/AIDS.

KRICT has also stepped in as a problem-solver during national crises, deploying chemical expertise when it was needed most.

When Japan's export restrictions in 2019 disrupted South Korea's materials supply chain, KRICT transferred its manufacturing process technology for PVDF, a fluorine-based material, to domestic companies. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the institute developed rapid diagnostic kits to support the country's response to the outbreak.

More recently, KRICT has been rapidly expanding its research into future industries, including carbon neutrality, energy and advanced biotech.

Key attendees pose for a commemorative photo at KRICT's 50th anniversary ceremony. [KRICT]

KRICT's biodegradable plastics technology led to the completion of a factory in Vietnam late last year with an annual production capacity of 70,000 tons. Its dry reforming technology, which uses carbon dioxide and methane, also resulted in the construction of the world's first production facility with an annual capacity of 8,000 tons.

In the field of perovskite solar cells — widely regarded as a next-generation photovoltaic technology — KRICT has recorded world-leading efficiency levels in succession, helping to drive the global technology race.

The institute operates national research infrastructure including the Korea Chemical Bank, and serves as the lead organization for the secondary battery and carbon dioxide capture and utilization (CCU) fields under the National Science and Technology Research Council's Global TOP Strategic Research program. A treatment for terminal rare blood cancer that received the "KRICT Award" this year has entered a global Phase 2 trial.

At Tuesday's ceremony, KRICT also unveiled its new "2040 Vision" charting the direction for the next 50 years.

KRICT President Shin Seok-min (third from left) and National Science and Technology Research Council Chairman Kim Young-sik (fourth from left) take part in a ceremony marking the unveiling of the "2040 Vision." [KRICT]

The new vision is anchored in the pledge: "When the world cannot find answers, we find them through chemistry" — rendered in English as "Chemistry, Find Ways Beyond Now."

The central keyword of the institute's future strategy is "FIND," an acronym drawn from its four core values: Foresight, Intelligence, Network and Dedication.

KRICT plans to leverage AI and data to redefine its research methods and evolve into a convergence platform connecting industry, academia, research institutions and domestic and international partners. The institute also aims to strengthen its role in proactively identifying and solving the complex challenges that the nation and industry will face.

"The history of KRICT is the product of the long, steady dedication of every member who worked quietly, and this 50th anniversary belongs to all those who gave their time and passion," KRICT President Shin Seok-min said. "Going forward, when the world cannot find answers, we will find them through chemistry and lead a great transformation of South Korea's chemical industry."

nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com