- Outlines blueprint for manufacturing innovation in the age of AI transformation

- Pledges support for global scale-up of small and medium-sized enterprises

Son Ung-hee officially takes office as the new president of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology on Monday. [Korea Institute of Industrial Technology]
Son Ung-hee officially takes office as the new president of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology on Monday. [Korea Institute of Industrial Technology]

Son Ung-hee, the newly appointed president of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), has pledged to lead manufacturing innovation and support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises under the banner of "people-centered, warm technology." His vision centers on producing results that translate directly into real business value and corporate growth — not research that stays confined to the laboratory.

KITECH held an inauguration ceremony for Son, its 14th president, at its headquarters in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, on Monday. Son was appointed by the board of the National Research Council of Science and Technology on Sept. 21 and began his three-year term the following day.

In his inaugural address, Son laid out a vision for building a research institution that values not only knowledge but also imagination, creativity, and the human qualities of dreams, hope and passion — qualities he said are essential as the era of AI transformation takes hold.

He identified "supporting the sustainability and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises through manufacturing innovation" as KITECH's core reason for being. The institute will focus its efforts on providing full-cycle global scale-up support, helping companies grow from technology development through commercialization and into overseas markets.

Son framed innovation that connects people, technology and business as the central direction for running the organization. He said he aims to build a virtuous cycle in which research outputs and patents generate real added value on the factory floor and feed back into corporate growth, rather than stopping at academic papers or technology development alone.

Son also introduced a new set of organizational values, drawing on the letters in KITECH's name: Trusty, Energetic, Creative and Harmonic.

Son graduated from Seoul National University of Science and Technology with a degree in mechanical design, then earned a master's degree in mechanical design and a doctorate in mechatronics engineering from Hanyang University. He joined KITECH in 1990 and went on to serve as head of the Convergence Technology Research Institute and as deputy president. He has also served as president of the Korea Robot Industry Promotion Agency and as an adviser to the Korea AI Technology Industry Association.


nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com