"Project to prepare for the establishment and production of business sites"
2024-01-08
Vinatech
Carbon Research Sold Out Technology Applies to Global Competitive Materials
"The first step is research and development of secondary batteries. I encountered carbon in the 1990s when I was researching secondary batteries. I focused on researching carbon, thinking that if carbon is not used when developing batteries, secondary battery technology is useless. Then, I founded Nexen Nanotech and developed eco-friendly carbon nanomaterials. In 2013, I acquired and merged with Vinatech to take charge of electrodes, catalysts, and supports, which are hydrogen fuel cells."
CEO Jeong Han-ki, who started his business at Vinatech in 2013, said that R&D of secondary batteries was his first start. Feeling that carbon was the most important factor, he desperately conducted research and founded Nexen Nanotech in 2002. A company called Vinatech has already acquired and merged with Vinatech because it fits well with his direction.
"It is the same for other fields, but it is difficult to have global competitiveness, especially in terms of materials. It cannot be said that Korea purchased raw materials from overseas and carried out the final process in Korea, so it is not easy to localize them. In addition, it is not easy to localize materials in Korea because the perspective on materials is three years short. We need to establish an infrastructure that will wait for R&D in the material field in the long run."
When asked about Korea's fuel cell localization and technology, he said that the localization process is not easy because it is too short, and it is difficult to have global competitiveness without changing the overall view of materials. In addition, he emphasized that the concept of localization is not established in the case of overseas products from the raw materials of localization.
"Demand for hydrogen fuel cells is increasing not only in Korea but also in Europe, China, and India, mainly in trucks and buses. China has established a policy strategy and invested a lot of money and manpower in the hydrogen market to focus on the commercial vehicle market, while Europe is also focusing on the commercial vehicle market. I believe that the hydrogen fuel cell market will open significantly only when the price of MEA falls to the level of 25% today. As we have to make headway with materials and technologies in the global competitive market, we have a lot of homework to solve."
CEO Chung said fuel cells are likely to take up a large portion of fossil fuel alternatives that are being reduced worldwide, adding that the current shortcomings can be overcome with technology over time. He said that as the number of commercial vehicles is increasing worldwide, the price of MEA, a key component of fuel cells, must fall to compete with foreign companies.
"Just as we pioneered and settled in the existing supercapacitor market, Vinatec will be one of the two pillars that will lead the company's growth by substituting hydrogen fuel cells for hydrogen fuel cells. In order to start the hydrogen fuel cell business in earnest, we are building an additional business site in the second complex of the Wanju Techno Valley and preparing technology for mass production. Our goal is to generate 1 trillion won in sales within 2030. If you have been a pursuer so far, you will become a leader in the future. In other words, we want to become a game changer in our business."
CEO Jeong Han-ki said Vinatech will leap forward to become a global eco-friendly energy company, adding that the hydrogen fuel cell business is increasing its share of sales. In particular, he was confident that within two to three years, we will be able to secure new growth engines through differentiated product competitiveness in the market and face an inflection point of growth.