Discovering and Fostering Start-ups in the Ceramics Industry

The Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology (KICET), an affiliate organization of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), is the sole institute specializing in ceramics.
KICET has been contributing to the national ceramics industry development through not only carrying out research and development (R&D) on cutting-edge new materials in the ceramics field, but also executing such missions as testing & analysis & evaluation, corporate support, and policy support for the ceramics industry.

KICET, as an organizing institute of the start-up leap package support project from 2019 to 2022 aimed at helping Korean start-ups grow, is supporting start-ups for successful leaps through new businesses by facilitating the innovative growth of the start-ups.
The start-up leap package support project is supervised by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), and is aimed at discovering and supporting competent Korean start-ups.
Korea’s start-ups – which have high potential for growth within their business career span of three to seven years – are entitled to receive such various benefits as financial aid, professional mentoring, support for advancement into domestic and overseas markets, etc.
Moreover, together with the support of commercialization capital including R&D support, such agency specialization programs as the technical support program, provide support for product upgrading, support for global competency enhancement, support for export, etc.

KICET discovered and fostered 22 start-ups as of 2021 and selected more than 20 start-ups last year, and is currently supporting these enterprises.
A high-ranking staff member of KICET recently noted, “We will do our best to steadily discover and foster more companies including three start-ups in 2022 – in order to ultimately nurture those start-ups as Korea’s representative enterprises in the near future.”

 

Advanced Si Anode Active Material for Li-ion Batteries of EVs

[INQ. NO. 2312M02] As a pioneer in secondary battery materials, Everindus Inc. is dedicated to creating innovative, sustainable battery solutions. It specializes in advanced, eco-friendly materials, powering the batteries of tomorrow.
Everindus’s EverSi Series comprises next-generation, high-performance, silicon-based anode active materials for electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries.
Everindus’s advanced silicon-based anode material significantly boosts the single-charge driving range and reduces charging times for EVs.

Offering enhanced price competitiveness
Utilizing a unique manufacturing process that sets it apart from traditional silicon anode methods, it offers enhanced price competitiveness, thus facilitating cost-effective production and integration into EV batteries.
The EverSi Series powder, an active anode material for lithium-ion batteries, features a crystalline silicon phase uniformly integrated within a three-dimensional SiOx (0<x≤2) matrix.
EverSi’s unique structure reduces Si anode expansion and shortens Li-ion diffusion, thereby enhancing Lithium-ion battery life and capacity retention.The EverSi Series powder is fabricated utilizing green, cost-efficient materials, processed through an energy-reductive, environmentally conscious engineering approach.
Driving eco-friendly EVs forward with greener battery technology, Everindus is leading the way.

Commercial Refrigerators

[INQ. NO. 2312M03] BLUENIX CO., LTD is a leading manufacturer of commercial refrigerators and ice machines. Holding the No. 1 market share in Korea, it is exporting all of its units to over 30 countries around the world for the past 20 years.

LRB-1471PC
As both the interior and exterior are made of stainless steel, this model can be used without fear of rust, stains, or corrosion. It keeps food fresh by effectively blocking external heat by using a urethane foam door and by preventing internal cold air from leaking out.

LMI-500A with storage bin
This model produces clean, vivid ice using a stainless steel cooler. The built-in digital PCB allows you to check each stage of the cycle, elapsed time, errors, cooler temperature, etc., so you can quickly identify the cause and respond in the event of a failure.
BLUENIX has formed a strong partnership with Samsung Electronics. One hundred percent of Samsung Electronics’ commercial refrigerators for domestic sales are made by the company as OEM business. With its sales history for half a century, BLUENIX strongly has confidence in its technical knowledge, quality, and maintenance for all of its customers.

Smart Safety System

[INQ. NO. 2312M04] This system consists of a Multi-function Digital Semaphore and a Gas Safety Master.
Its control panel consists of functions that control a flagger, a text electric sign, a siren, image equipment, a power supply, and sound. It also has a function that manages a site by displaying an instant gas-detection response by connecting with the Gas Master that comes with it. Gas Safety Master is a primary gas detection system that can be used in industrial sites that can potentially be exposed to harmful gases.
Workers can carry it freely to a site when working, and it has a linked external warning system, as well as its own alarm when an abnormality is detected. Therefore, if a field worker cannot independently perform a rescue, the external warning system alerts others to the site’s problem. In addition, Gas Safety Master has a convenient function that can create a report automatically when needed by continuously monitoring, recording and saving a site situation linking with PC using telecommunications.

Swing Blind Valve
This is a powder blocking valve, preventing the entry of ash, etc. It is an innovative product that can reduce the water-backwashing period when backwashing an electric precipitator with water to reduce fine dust by installing at a bottom ash and fly ash facility in a thermal power plant. It has the advantage whereby a water-backwashing period is very greatly reduced because a valve is turned on-and-off by turning a disc from side to side when using a blind valve. It also has outstanding air-tightness performance due to a moving seat ring moving up-and-down and a triple O-ring.

Electrochemical Device

[INQ. NO. 2312M05] Established in 2017, Overplus Power Co., Ltd. has strived to develop high-temperature water solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack for clean hydrogen production without creating any greenhouse gases on the side.
With multidisciplinary areas such as materials science, chemical engineering, electrochemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering, developing reliable SOEC stacks comes with big challenges. After successful short stack development, Overplus Power is now commercializing the stack.

The SOEC stack is an electrochemical device that converts water steam into hydrogen, which is expected to lower hydrogen production costs significantly in the near future. However, it is challenged with relatively low durability that needs to improve.
Overplus Power’s stack fortunately delivers excellent current efficiency and durability that can compete with global producers such as Bloom Energy or Sunfire. The company can work with system suppliers to develop entire systems with customized stack characteristics.
Compared with competitive electrolysis technologies such as PEM or alkaline electrolysis techniques, where they require 52-55 kWh/kgH2, SOEC technology only requires 37 kWh/kgH2 which results in much better business results.

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