UNIST, SK On Strengthen Collaboration to Cultivate Battery Talent and Enhance R&D Capabilities

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UNIST announced its plans to deepen collaboration with SK On to foster talent in the battery industry. This strategic partnership aims to attract outstanding researchers, broaden the foundation of research and development, and secure future competitive advantages.

On May 27, UNIST and SK On signed a memorandum to extend the ‘e-SKB Industry-Academia Cooperative Program.’ The signing ceremony of MoU was held at the Main Administration Building of UNIST and was attended by Vice President Hyun Sil Ahn of Research Affairs, Dean Youngsik Kim of the Office of University-Industry Relations, Kisoo Park, Head of R&D Division at SK On, and key officials from both organizations.

The ‘e-SKB’ (Education Program for SK Battery) is a joint talent development initiative launched by UNIST and SK On in March 2022. Participants in the program receive tuition support and research grants, and enjoy preferential employment opportunities at SK On upon graduation.

Through this extension agreement, both institutions have agreed to prolong their collaboration and expand the scope of the e-SKB program to include more departments and wider selection criteria. This effort aims to increase engagement with top talents and broaden research efforts in the battery sector.

Notably, the program will now include students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, in addition to Energy Chemical Engineering. Furthermore, participation will be available not only during master’s studies but also for doctoral candidates. Previously, only students admitted through the initial e-SKB selection at UNIST were eligible, but moving forward, current students will also be able to apply.

The partnership also plans to reinforce support for faculty research activities and thesis supervision, thereby accelerating advancements in battery research and enhancing talent acquisition.

Vice President Ahn stated, “This collaboration with SK On will create a new model for talent development. UNIST aims to produce professionals equipped with both practical skills demanded by the industry and deep academic knowledge through comprehensive battery education.”

Kisoo Park, Head of R&D at SK On, emphasized, “SK On is committed to cultivating the talent necessary to lead the future battery industry. We will explore diverse cooperation initiatives to expand our research and development capabilities.”