SNU Supports Diversification of Automotive Materials and Components Companies to Prepare for Future Mobility Era
- Partnership with Hyundai Motor Company to Support SMEs and Create Shared Value
- Establishment of Korea's First Integrated Industry-Academia-Government Consulting Platform

Seoul National University successfully held a project briefing on October 2nd at the College of Engineering’s 38th building to mark the start of the second year of the consulting project aimed at diversifying businesses and creating future value for materials and components companies in the future mobility industry.

This project briefing targeted mid-sized and small but strong companies selected for the "Consulting Project for Business Diversification and Future Value Creation for Mobility Materials and Components Companies." Launched in 2023, the project was developed by Seoul National University as Korea's first industry-academia-government-linked platform in the future mobility sector. This platform connects OEMs (Hyundai Motor Group), universities (SNU), and the government (Ministry of Science and ICT) to improve investment conditions and enhance the self-sufficiency of materials and components companies.

As the mobility industry's paradigm shifts toward electrification, eco-friendliness, autonomous driving, and urban air mobility (UAM), the diversification and future value exploration of supply chain companies, especially in materials and components, has emerged as a critical demand of the times. Responding to this industrial transformation, supporting traditional internal combustion engine-focused materials and components companies to quickly evolve into core suppliers for the future mobility sector is seen as a joint task for both industry and academia to build a robust industrial ecosystem.

The "Consulting Project for Business Diversification and Future Value Creation for Mobility Materials and Components Companies" began in 2023 as part of the "Automotive Industry Win-Win Growth and Strengthening Competitiveness in the Future Car Era" initiative announced by Hyundai Motor Group (Chairman Euisun Chung) in October 2022. With the rapid transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, the three-year project aims to support auto parts suppliers in preparing for the future car era and enhancing their ability to respond to rapid market changes.

Following this, SNU signed an industry-academia collaboration agreement with Hyundai Motor Group and the Automotive Parts Industry Promotion Foundation in February 2023 to support the competitiveness of the automotive parts industry in the future car era. Since then, the Center for Industry-Academia Cooperation and Engineering Talent Support (Director: Professor Seung-Yeop Kwak) at SNU has established Korea's first advisory platform to provide practical support for materials and components companies. Through partnerships with specialized consulting firms and cooperative organizations in corporate information, technology, and management, the platform offers comprehensive consulting covering vision and direction, management and patent strategy, product commercialization support, R&D advice, open innovation, and networking to the participating companies. In the first year (June 2023 – August 2024), the project supported nine companies, which are now seeking follow-up projects based on tailored strategies.

At the event, over 50 attendees, including representatives from SNU, Hyundai Motor, the participating mid-sized and strong companies, and partnering organizations, gathered to discuss the second-year (September 2024 – February 2026) project overview and detailed operational plans from key partners such as Roland Berger and Kim & Chang. Building on the success of the first year, the second-year participants include nine companies: Seohan Inovility Co., Ltd. (CEO: Dong-Young Yoon), Ajin Industrial Co., Ltd. (CEO: Jung-Ho Seo), Auto Industry Co., Ltd. (CEO: Hong-Jik Kim), UNICK Corporation (CEO: Jung-Koo Ahn), INZI Controls Co., Ltd. (CEO: Koo-Yong Jung), Inpac Corporation (CEO: Jang-Don Choi), Hyundai Sungwoo Solite Co., Ltd. (CEO: Soo-Cheol Lee), Hwaseung Corporation (CEO: Sung-Ryong Heo), and Hwashin Co., Ltd. (CEO: Seo-Jin Jung).

Professor Seung-Yeop Kwak, the head of the Center for Industry-Academia Cooperation and Engineering Talent Support at SNU and the project leader, emphasized the importance of this collaborative program, stating, "At a time when improving Korea’s future mobility competitiveness and responding to industrial paradigm shifts is critical, a win-win program that brings together OEMs, the supply chain of materials, components, and equipment, the government, and universities as one team is essential." He further predicted that “this consulting project, in which OEMs, universities, and the government collaborate, will become a new solution platform that helps materials and components companies, which have relatively less capital and information compared to large corporations, successfully respond to industrial changes in the future car era." He added, "Through this project, SNU will play a leading role in Korea’s mobility industry, a sustainable key industry for a manufacturing powerhouse, while fulfilling its social responsibility for mutual growth."

Geun-Joo Jeong, Executive Vice President of the Purchasing Division at Hyundai Motor Group, expressed high expectations for SNU’s integrated advisory platform, noting, “The comprehensive support provided through this platform, which overcomes the limitations of previous one-off, fragmented support, will greatly help partner companies establish future business models.” He added, “Through the rapid and proactive diversification of the smart mobility materials and components business, Hyundai Motor and its partner companies will move forward as co-leaders in the industrial chain.”


▲ Prof. Seung-Yeop Kwak 


[Contact Information]
Eunhye Kim, Director of the Center for Industry-Academia Cooperation and Engineering Talent Support, SNU / +82-2-880-2256 / keh812@snu.ac.kr