Korea Polytechnic University's ICT Convergence Manufacturing Intelligence Research Center (Grand-ICT Research Center) announced on the 22nd that it signed a business agreement with K-Fuel Cell, a specialized company in the hydrogen fuel cell sector, on the 21st for joint research and development of S/W and H/W related to hydrogen fuel cells and eco-friendly energy, as well as for nurturing talent.

K-Fuel Cell, established in 2019, is a specialized hydrogen fuel cell company. It is an affiliate of the Corens Group, which holds the number one global market share in the automotive exhaust gas recirculation device sector and is expanding its business into eco-friendly automotive parts. In 2021, it secured a mass production order for fuel cell system operation device parts for Hyundai Motor's next-generation Nexo model, proving its technological prowess, and in 2022, it was designated as a hydrogen-specialized company by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. K-Fuel Cell has independently developed the stack, a core component of fuel cells. It also developed a next-generation fuel cell separator plate applying carbon composite materials, which was finally selected for the National New Technology Certification (NET) in 2025. The company is developing solutions for various fields, including mobility, buildings, power generation, ships, and military, by developing operation devices (BOP) and control technologies.

The two institutions plan to create an ecosystem for joint research and development of S/W and H/W related to hydrogen fuel cells and eco-friendly energy through this agreement. They also plan to conduct technical education and research cooperation necessary for the field to nurture specialized personnel in eco-friendly energy solution development.

Bae Yoo-seok, head of the Grand-ICT Center, stated, “It is expected that the exchange of human, material, and technical information between the two institutions will actively foster specialized personnel and research,” adding, “The dissemination of S/W technology related to hydrogen fuel cells and the application and demonstration of big data and artificial intelligence-based technologies will greatly contribute to creating an ecosystem for eco-friendly energy development.”

The Grand-ICT Research Center has been selected as a regional hub research center in the Gyeonggi region for the Regional Intelligence Core Talent Development Project supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation. It has achieved results such as 104 master's degrees, 73 SCI papers, 169 domestic and international non-SCI papers, 101 domestic and international patent applications, 26 patent registrations, and technology commercialization attraction. A representative of the Grand-ICT Research Center stated, “We will continue to collaborate with local industries to focus on eco-friendly energy S/W research and technology development for a sustainable future.”

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