Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the world’s biggest shipbuilder, announced today that it jointly opened the Ulsan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (UCCEI) with Ulsan Metropolitan City.

 

The opening ceremony at University of Ulsan was attended by President Park Geun-hye; Ulsan City Mayor Kim Ki-hyun; Mr. Choi Kil-seon, chairman & CEO of HHI; Mr. Kwon Oh-gap, president & CEO of HHI; and 150 other guests.

 

The center will serve as a springboard for takeoff of domestic shipbuilding and offshore business; an incubator for medical automation business; a bridge between MARU180, a private organization providing an open source platform of education, investment and networking for startups; and a facilitator for local 3D printing business.

 

 

UCCEI, as a Hub for Shipbuilding and Offshore Business Rebound

UCCEI will play a key role in leading the resurgence of South Korea’s shipbuilding and offshore business by creating an ecosystem where major shipbuilding companies, small and medium-sized equipment makers, and ICT (Information & Communication Technology) companies can cooperate to develop the next generation eco-ships and smart ships, and to localize major parts for ships and offshore facilities. UCCEI also plans to share 2,500 eco-ship related patents of Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering with SME shipbuilders and ship parts companies.

 

For the development of smart ships, UCCEI will support ICT ventures to develop smart ship services by operating “Smartship SW Development Assistance System” and providing quality test services for new products and model ships along with an annual “Smart Ship SW Idea Contest.”

 

Nurturing Advanced Medical Automation Business as a New Growth Engine

UCCEI will also foster advanced medical automation business as a new growth engine for Ulsan, home to HHI, Korea’s biggest industrial robot and a leading medical robot maker, and a wide range of SMES in automation businesses. To make this happen, the center will establish a “Medical Automation Portal” to share ideas and know-hows among entrepreneurs, medical staff and companies and create an environment where medical ventures can test the suitability of their developed products in cooperation with Asan Medical Center and Ulsan University Hospital. Moreover, UCCEI will encourage companies and hospitals to make inroads into overseas markets by binding medical robots and medical services as a package product.

 

Sharing Startup Assistance Platform with Private Organization, MARU180

The center will share various startup assistance platforms including one-on-one mentoring service, education programs, business idea contests and investment attraction service via MARU180. To facilitate the sharing, the center will operate “MARU180 Virtual Accelerating Zone,” a video conference room that will connect ventures in Ulsan and Seoul.

 

Facilitating Local 3D Printing Business

UCCEI operates “3D Printing Portal,” an information database of patents, epuipment, materials, professionals and institutes. The center also has a “3D Tech-Shop,” a lab for developing and testing ship and car parts made from 3D technology.

 

The center spans 1,828 m² in two locations including a 1,221 m² “Creativity Maru” at University of Ulsan, where entrepreneurs can share business ideas and make prototype products, and a 607 m² “Convergence Maru” at Ulsan Venture Building, where entrepreneurs can receive mentoring, finance and legal consulting services.