UCL celebrates launch of Korea innovation partnership at UK Embassy in Seoul

Held at the British Ambassador’s Residence, the event brought together senior UCL academics, Korean scientists, industry leaders, government and diplomatic representatives to celebrate GITCC’s mission to connect cutting-edge UK research with Korea’s strategic industrial sectors.

In creating GITCC, UCL has partnered with the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT). The centre is the first of its kind to be hosted by a UK university, and will operate as a cross-faculty platform, led by UCL Innovation & Enterprise.

Providing a dedicated platform for joint R&D, the Centre will focus on next-generation mobility, biotechnology, semiconductors, batteries, and AI. Its aim will be to guide co-developed technologies to commercialisation within five years.

Speaking at the event, Professor Andy Nisbet, Executive Dean of UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences, said: “It’s a privilege to be at the British Embassy in Seoul to celebrate the launch of UCL’s Global Industrial Technology Cooperation Centre. UCL is proud to be London’s global university, bringing together world-leading research across disciplines to tackle global challenges. Partnerships like the GITCC connect our research with real-world impact, supporting innovation and industrial growth in both the UK and Korea. This collaboration is built on mutual benefit, strengthening UCL’s knowledge base while helping Korean industry develop future-facing technologies.”

The Centre will be open to partners from Korea’s industry, academia and government, who will work with academics from across UCL, with strong links and leadership from UCL’s Faculty of Engineering Sciences.

The initiative will create a pipeline for future partnerships and investment in the UK by Korean companies helping to build the industries of the future.

Professor Jeom-Kee Paik FREng, Director of the UCL GITCC and Professor of Marine Technology, said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all distinguished guests who joined us to celebrate the launch of the UCL Global Industrial Technology Cooperation Centre.   

“As the first GITCC in the UK, our mission is to identify advanced and emerging technologies, as well as leading researchers across the UK and EU, and to connect them with promising Korean companies to promote joint research, development and commercialisation."

HM Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Colin Crooks LVO, said: “As the first GITCC awarded to a UK university, this marks an important step forward in collaboration between the UK and Korea on research and industrial innovation. Both our countries are recognised as global leaders in science and technology. We are well-suited partners, and this Centre is a timely and strategic platform to deepen that partnership. I’m grateful to the Korean government and the UCL team for making this a reality.”

The reception also highlighted Korea’s recent accession to Horizon Europe, opening new opportunities for Korean companies to access EU funding. UCL, which has secured over €780 million in Horizon funding to date, will support Korean partners in developing competitive proposals through its European Research and Innovation Office.

The event, held on October 29 2025, was attended by representatives from over 35 Korean organisations, including Hyundai Motor Group, HD KSOE, Wonik Robotics, Samsung Heavy Industries, Samsung AI, LG Energy Solutions, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and KAIST as well as senior officials from MOTIR and KIAT.

Links

• The UCL Global Industrial Technology Cooperation (UCL GITCC)
• UCL launches UK’s first centre focusing on collaborative industrial research with South Korea
• UCL Innovation & Enterprise
• UCL Engineering

Image

• From left to right: Nick Marsden, Associate Director of Development (Faculties); Rob Thomson, Vice-Dean Enterprise, UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences;Tao Cheng, Vice Dean International, UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences; Will Lovegrove, Director, Strategic Innovation Partnerships; Andy Nisbet, Dean, UCL’s Faculty of Engineering Sciences; Jon Wheatley, Head of Communications, UCL’s Faculty of Engineering Sciences; Jeom-Kee Paik, Director of the UCL GITCC and Professor of Marine Technology; Thomas Miller, Associate Professor in Electrochemistry and Materials Science, UCL Chemical Engineering.

Media contact

Matt Midgley

Email: m.midgley [at] ucl.ac.uk