Partnership to support global standard data exchange on carbon emissions and more

Initiative to start with automakers and parts suppliers, then expand across manufacturing

From right: Kwon Yong-hyun, head of LG Uplus's enterprise division; Thomas Rosch, CEO of Cofinity-X; Nadine Kanya, head of industry at Catena-X; and Lee Jeong-ryun, CEO of IBCT, pose for a photo at LG Uplus's headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul. [LG Uplus]
From right: Kwon Yong-hyun, head of LG Uplus's enterprise division; Thomas Rosch, CEO of Cofinity-X; Nadine Kanya, head of industry at Catena-X; and Lee Jeong-ryun, CEO of IBCT, pose for a photo at LG Uplus's headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul. [LG Uplus]

LG Uplus has partnered with Catena-X, the global automotive industry data ecosystem, to help South Korean manufacturers enter global supply chains. The company plans to leverage its information and communications technology capabilities to build an environment where domestic manufacturers can securely exchange key data with overseas partners.

LG Uplus signed a memorandum of understanding with Catena-X, Cofinity-X and IBCT on Friday at its headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul, to establish a trusted data ecosystem for Korea's manufacturing sector. The signing ceremony was attended by Kwon Yong-hyun, head of LG Uplus's enterprise division, along with Nadine Kanya, head of industry at Catena-X, Thomas Rosch, CEO of Cofinity-X, and Lee Jeong-ryun, CEO of IBCT.

Catena-X is a data ecosystem that allows automakers and parts suppliers to exchange information — including carbon emissions data and component production and traceability records — under common standards, and has been expanding primarily across Europe. Cofinity-X operates the Catena-X ecosystem and supports companies in joining it and exchanging data within it. IBCT is a domestic data space specialist that helps South Korean manufacturers participate in Catena-X and apply its technology.

The core aim of the agreement is to create an environment where South Korean manufacturers can securely send and receive the data required by global supply chains. According to LG Uplus, the ability to provide product-related data — such as carbon emissions figures and production and traceability records — in line with global standards is becoming increasingly important in international supply chains.

LG Uplus said the partnership is significant in that it broadens the connection between the domestically driven K-Data Space initiative and global data ecosystems such as Catena-X. The company plans to lay the groundwork for South Korean manufacturers to exchange data with global supply chain participants in a standardized way.

The four companies will cooperate on expanding South Korean manufacturers' participation in Catena-X, applying Catena-X data standards to domestic manufacturing, linking data between domestic and international supply chain participants, and identifying domestic use cases. The collaboration combines Catena-X's data standards, Cofinity-X's ecosystem operating experience, IBCT's technical expertise and LG Uplus's domestic business capabilities.

LG Uplus will draw on its business-to-business experience with domestic manufacturers and its ICT capabilities — spanning telecommunications, cloud, security and systems integration — to support companies from their initial entry into Catena-X through to data linkage and ongoing operations. The company plans to develop use cases centered on automakers and parts suppliers, then gradually expand the model to other manufacturing sectors.

"In global manufacturing, the ability to securely exchange necessary data with supply chain partners is becoming just as important as making good products," said Kwon Yong-hyun, executive vice president of LG Uplus. "We will use our capabilities in telecommunications, cloud, security and systems integration to help South Korean manufacturers participate in the global data supply chain."


chami@heraldcorp.com