On February 19, the KICT and Korea National Railway (KNR) concluded an MOU for cooperation in railway technology innovation at the KICT’s headquarters in Ilsan. The MOU signing ceremony was attended by KICT President Park Sun-kyu, KNR Chairman Lee Sung-hae, and other officials from both organizations.

The KICT and KNR will foster a collaborative relationship to advance railway and construction technologies, working together on the development and commercialization of railway-related innovations. The partners will also facilitate personnel exchanges, including expert consulting and project reviews, and share infrastructure, such as R&D facilities, for multi-faceted cooperation. The two organizations have a history of collaborating in research, publications, and information sharing for infrastructure development on the Korean Peninsula.

As the only government-funded construction technology research institute in Korea, the KICT, coupled with KNR’s extensive experience in railway projects, is poised to enhance the quality of railway services through digital twinning and building information modeling (BIM) of railway infrastructure. This collaboration is expected to usher in a new era of high-speed rail mobility, contributing to the balanced development of Korea’s regions.

"The merging of the two partners’ experience and infrastructure will significantly boost research capacity and achievements in the areas of construction and railway," said KICT President Park. "Efforts will be made to improve public safety and the quality of life through ongoing collaboration."