MOU signed with Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, Korean Chemical Society

Team selection, training and competition support to begin next year

59th edition to be held in Taiwan in July

Samsung SDI's Giheung campus. [Samsung SDI]
Samsung SDI's Giheung campus. [Samsung SDI]

Samsung SDI will sponsor South Korea's delegation to the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), supporting team selection, training and competition participation starting next year, and providing separate scholarships to medal winners.

Samsung SDI announced Thursday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity and the Korean Chemical Society at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The signing ceremony was attended by Senior Vice President Kim Hun-gyu, head of Samsung SDI's People team, along with Jung Woo-sung, president of the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, and Geum Gyo-chang, president of the Korean Chemical Society.

Under the agreement, Samsung SDI will support the Korean delegation's selection, training and participation in the international competition, all organized by the Korean Chemical Society, beginning in January next year. Students who win awards at the competition will also receive scholarships.

The sponsorship aims to help domestic talent in basic sciences gain experience on the international stage. Samsung SDI said it decided to provide support based on its view that nurturing talent in chemistry and other basic science fields is crucial to strengthening the country's long-term scientific and technological competitiveness.

The International Chemistry Olympiad is a competition in which high school students from around the world test their chemistry knowledge and problem-solving skills. South Korea has sent a delegation every year since the 24th edition, held in Pennsylvania in 1992.

The 59th International Chemistry Olympiad will be held in Taipei, Taiwan, from July 19 to July 28 next year.

"We have been making various efforts to nurture science and engineering talent through research support, educational sponsorship and other initiatives," a Samsung SDI official said. "We will continue to contribute to developing the next generation of science and technology talent."

Other Samsung affiliates are also sponsoring South Korea's delegations to international science olympiads in their respective fields. Samsung Electronics supports the International Mathematical Olympiad and the International Physics Olympiad, while Samsung Biologics and Samsung Bioepis serve as sponsors for the South Korean delegation to the International Biology Olympiad.


kwater@heraldcorp.com