- Joint research to target carbon neutrality, biotech and future food technologies

- Collaboration to span basic research through prototyping and commercialization

KAIST President Bae Choong-sik (left) presents a plaque of appreciation to Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin at the completion ceremony for the Lotte×KAIST R&D Center at KAIST's main campus in Daejeon on Friday. [KAIST]
KAIST President Bae Choong-sik (left) presents a plaque of appreciation to Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin at the completion ceremony for the Lotte×KAIST R&D Center at KAIST's main campus in Daejeon on Friday. [KAIST]

Lotte Group and KAIST have joined forces to pursue research and development in key future technologies, including carbon neutrality, biotechnology and next-generation food.

KAIST announced Sunday that it has completed the Lotte×KAIST R&D Center, an industry-academia research hub, at its main campus in Daejeon.

A completion ceremony was held Friday, attended by Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, other Lotte Group officials, KAIST President Bae Choong-sik and faculty from the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering.

The center was built using a 10 billion won ($7.47 million) construction donation from Lotte Group along with funds from KAIST's Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering. The facility spans approximately 4,298 square meters across one below-ground floor and six above-ground floors, and features open research and collaboration spaces designed to encourage joint work across disciplines and institutional boundaries.

The center will focus on three core research areas: bio-sustainability, carbon-neutral energy, materials and processes, and advanced food and healthcare.

In bio-sustainability, researchers will apply systems metabolic engineering to develop biofuels and bioplastics as alternatives to fossil-based resources. The carbon neutrality track will pursue key technologies in green hydrogen, renewable energy and batteries. The advanced food and healthcare area will concentrate on future food and healthcare-related technologies.

AI will also be integrated across all research activities. The center plans to use AI to identify new materials and technology candidates, boosting the speed and efficiency of R&D.

KAIST President Bae Choong-sik (center right) and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin (center left), along with officials from KAIST and Lotte Group, cut the ribbon at the completion ceremony for the Lotte×KAIST R&D Center. [KAIST]
KAIST President Bae Choong-sik (center right) and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin (center left), along with officials from KAIST and Lotte Group, cut the ribbon at the completion ceremony for the Lotte×KAIST R&D Center. [KAIST]

The center is designed to go beyond conventional joint research by combining KAIST's fundamental research capabilities with Lotte's industrial and commercialization expertise. The aim is to build an industry-academia framework that takes technologies developed in university laboratories through testing and prototyping and connects them to real industrial applications and commercial ventures.

The partnership between KAIST and Lotte stretches back more than a decade. The two sides have operated a graduate degree program for Lotte employees since 2012 and have since expanded their collaboration to include technology transfers and personnel exchanges with Lotte Chemical.

In 2022, they established the Lotte Chemical-KAIST Carbon Neutrality Research Center to secure core carbon-neutral technologies and train specialists in the field. The completion of the new R&D center marks an expansion of that existing collaboration — from talent development and joint research into future technology development and commercialization.

"I hope the R&D center will become a hub for industry-academia cooperation that transcends the boundaries between academia and business, creating greater possibilities," Shin said. "Lotte will stand as a steadfast partner so that faculty and students can research and take on challenges freely, without fear of failure."

KAIST President Bae said the center would bridge the gap between laboratory ideas and real-world industrial value. "We will combine KAIST's research capabilities with Lotte's industrial and commercialization strengths to turn ideas and technologies from the lab into tangible value on the factory floor," Bae said. "Together, we will create new growth engines for Korea and find solutions for a sustainable future."


nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com