“Much like the Salt Lake campus, the Incheon campus is located right in the heart of a bustling city.”
Photo IFEZ
Nice mention of Songdo in The Daily Utah Chronicle.
Songdo has many large businesses and it is very convenient to students, holding the popular term “Smart City” for being efficient in technology use. Business consultant Don Southerton wrote “Songdo’s development aimed to create an integrated 15-minute city, where people can access 90% of their daily activities by bike or public transportation in fifteen minutes or less.
As part of the Incheon Global Campus, Utah, is joined by SUNY, George Mason, GHENT and Stanford. https://www.igc.or.kr
The article goes on to share… In addition to the University of Utah’s main Salt Lake City campus, there is a campus located in Incheon, South Korea. The U’s Asia Campus is conveniently located in Songdo, the business district. This provides students with not only a comprehensive learning experience but is also great for future career opportunities and internships.
A bird’s-eye view of the Global Genome Center provided by the Incheon Free Economic Zone
The Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) has the groundbreaking for Macrogen’s Songdo Global Genome Center at the Advanced Industrial Cluster in Songdo International City.
Dr. Won-seok Yun, head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, said, “We expect Macrogen to take a leap forward as a global precision medicine leader and Incheon Free Economic Zone to advance its bio-industry structure further.”
IFEZ Songdo is home to South Korea’s growing biopharmaceutical production capacity and increasingly making the country an attractive investment destination for global life science companies.
Founded in 1997, Macrogen is a company specializing in dielectric analysis. They are South Korea’s leader with the world’s fifth-largest capacity next-generation sequencing. Macrogen provides services to more than 18,000 customers in 153 countries.
The Songdo Global Genome Center will serve as a global genomic big data hub that accelerates the digital transformation of healthcare by combining big data including genomic information and artificial intelligence (AI).
IFEZ expects Macrogen’s dielectric analysis research facility to greatly contribute to the diversification of the bio-industry structure of the Songdo Biocluster.
Heads up– I am a keynote speaker at the 2024 Korea’s Sisa Journal-e.com Start-up Conference this week.
My topic–The Ecosystem of Global and Korean Start-ups: Risk, and the Shift in Startup Mindset.
I’m joining an amazing lineup of guest speakers talking on: the electric vehicle market, the Unmanned Exploration Research Institute Space robotics, and The role of climate tech in achieving carbon neutrality.
The event will be held in Seoul at 10 AM, March 20 KST, and shared Live via this YouTube link.
Site Selection Magazine just posted an article on the Incheon Airport City and the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ)— South Korea Aerotropolis leads the world in the combined magnitude, range, and quality of commercial investment in both its airport city core and peripheral business and urban clusters. Its planning and development epitomize the principles of “thinking big, acting fast, and doing it right.”
International Business Centre 1 (IBC-I) was designed to reinforce air traffic demand, boost airport commercial revenues and improve the operational efficiencies throughout the broader Incheon Aerotropolis. Image courtesy of Incheon International Airport Corporation
— Lithium-ion batteries perform poorly in cold weather. Lead-acid batteries are not environmentally friendly. — alternative, lithium-titanium compound, minus 30 degrees, withstand fast charging, — buses, ships, heavy-duty ‘multiplier’ market can coexist with lithium-ion
Grinergy CEO Sungpang ( Scott) Bang Photo Park Hae-joo
“There are several problems with batteries used in today’s vehicles. Lead-acid batteries are safe, but they pollute the environment and are heavy. Lithium-ion batteries lose their performance significantly when the temperature drops. I think there are batteries that solve these problems. I think the era will come when the existing battery market and new batteries coexist.” Grinergy CEO Sungpang (Scott) Bang
This is a startup that began with the idea that battery technology is a key issue in the era of electric mobility. In Silicon Valley, Sungpang ( Scott) Bang (47, photo)who worked at Tesla, Apple, Byton, and Hyundai, etc., and Samsung Electronics’ former COO Byung-hoon Jeong, who co-founded Grinergy in 2017, are the main characters.
They witnessed early on that the automobile industry was slowly shifting from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, but they realized that current battery technology could not match the tasks that internal combustion engines are doing.
For example, there are problems in that the existing batteries under perform the internal combustion engine in heavy trucks that require strong output or in areas where more than half of the year temperatures falls below -10 degrees Celsius except in the summer.
For this reason, for several years since its establishment in 2017 Grinergy has developed a secondary battery using Lithium Titanium compound (LTO). Currently, 5 patents related to LTO batteries have been registered and 6 applications have been filed. Grinergy co-CEO Bang met with reporters in San Jose, California, USA and said, “LTO batteries are lead-free, so they are more environmentally friendly and work at -30 degrees.”
The typical case use is in electric vehicles and low temperatures. This is because Lithium-ion batteries that power vehicles instead of internal combustion engines perform poorly in low temperatures.This lithium-ion battery operates normally at 10–50 degrees Celsius, and its efficiency drops significantly when the temperature is higher or lower.
More so, in order to upgrade energy sources from internal combustion engines to electricity for transportation means that cars, trucks, heavy equipment, railways, and yachts operating in cold regions have no choice but to look for other alternatives due to the limitations of the existing Lithium-ion batteries.
On the other hand, LTO batteries are resistant to temperature, so they can be charged at -30 degrees Celsius. “We are conducting due diligence evaluations of batteries with a [Korean] military base through a defense venture project,” said CEO Bang. The goal is to prove how much Grinergy’s LTO battery can perform even in cold weather.
In addition, Grinergy is providing products for Korea’s outdoor smart signs. The current batteries powering the smart signs freeze in cold weather and do not work properly.
Grinergy is also paying attention to medium-to-large transportation such as buses, ships, trains, and heavy equipment, markets that are urgently required to be electrified due to the soot and the pollution problems that pose.
In the case of transportation, it is important to increase the mileage by compressing the size and weight of the battery, but it is also more important to increase the output of energy in a short time. CEO Bang said, “Grinergy’s batteries have better performance for these special industries.”
There is a growing possibility that LTO batteries will replace lead-acid batteries used for starting in existing vehicles. Lead-acid batteries are widely used in automobiles because they are very safe. Even electric vehicles such as Tesla contain lead-acid batteries and are used for starting.
Lead-acid batteries are widely used in automobiles because they are very safe. Even electric vehicles such as Tesla contain lead-acid batteries and are used for starting the vehicle.
However, since the recycling of lead-acid batteries is often done in underdeveloped countries — breaking down of the battery into its raw materials — it causes not only environmental pollution issues but also poses health problems. CEO Bang notes he saw the environmental pollution problem of recycling this lead acid battery and thought about how to solve it.
Of course, LTO batteries are not without their drawbacks. CEO Bang said, “LTO batteries have 10~15% less capacity to the same volume compared to general lithium batteries. In particular, he predicted that lithium-ion batteries and LTO batteries would coexist in the future. CEO Bang explained, “The global battery market is worth close to $1 trillion, but half of the battery market is lithium-ion and the rest is lead-acid batteries.” He added, “LTO batteries can be charged at -30 degrees Celsius, can be charged more than 10 times faster than lithium-ion, and are eco-friendly, so there is a good chance of winning.”
[Silicon Valley = Reporter Shin Hyeon-gyu / Reporter Lee Sang-deok] [ⓒ Maeil Business & mk.co.kr,]
South Korea: Smart Work and COVID-19 Transforming the Workplace
By Don Southerton
With the COVID-19 New Normal from video chat platforms to office productivity and cloud-based software, the shift to working remotely is now seen as a convenient alternative to in-person communication, the office and commerce.
In this article, we will look at how Koreans post-COVID-19 may come to accept remote working (also referred to in Korea as “smart work”), as an option to the traditional on-site model. In February and March government agencies and companies across South Korea opted to keep workers home in what can be seen as a mass experiment with the remote work system — the intent to flatten the spread of COVID-19. As the threat passed, and methods to control the spread of the virus proved effective, companies soon called for their homebound teams return to their offices.
In a nation with little experience with teams working remotely, responses are mixed — some now strong advocates perceiving themselves more productive and efficient, while others feel working from home meant longer hours tied to technology and little boundaries between work and personal time.
With the post-coronavirus shift back to the office, the pros and cons of work-from-home will be subject to scrutiny and comparison with the day to day work culture still heavily rooted in on-site interaction and interpersonal contact.
One issue that did not hamper work from home was Korea’s Internet infrastructure robustness even as the demand for telecommuting solutions rapidly increased.
Unlike underdeveloped countries, Korea was not limited by a lack of state-of-the-art technology. A number of Korean and multinational information technology companies were able to provide top-notch smart work services, with many large firms like the Hyundai Motor Group having long had their own internal communications systems.
More so, Korean domestic ICTs like the Hancom Group have since the 1990s offered a suite of office productivity software platforms. Originally developed for the home Korean market in their indigenous language Hangul, the software now has English as well as other language options. Plus, as an attractive alternative to Microsoft 365, Hancom offers several Cloud-based products, including Hancom Space and Hancom DocsConverter. [Source: https://office.hancom.com]
Not Alone
Korea tech brands like Naver, too, saw considerable demand. The tech giant which offers Line Works, a popular telecommuting software, witnessed a huge spike in usage during the peak of Korea’s COVID-19 outbreak. The company added that its video conference calls technology saw a sevenfold increase during the same period.
The Big Question
As most of Korea has returned to working on-site, the big question remains open as to whether working remotely and adopting “smart work” systems will become an option and part of the new normal.
As I noted in my book Korea 2020, A Workplace in Transition that was released earlier this year, there has been a considerable effort to offer a flexible working environment. Many of Korea’s top Groups have transitioned their corporate policy for rigid older norms to open dress codes, flexible work hours, and are adopting a more horizontal and creative work culture.
Increasingly, Korean companies, particularly those dedicated to technology and mobility have sought to become adaptive and agile global players. Adding to this, we are finding that the strong hierarchical corporate culture is being challenged by the growing number of millennials. It is no surprise that some millennials are leaving their corporate jobs to pursue freelance work and are very open to working remotely.
That said, even as Korea’s workplace culture has progressed, we are seeing push back on working remotely — some executives still prefer their teams to work on-site and are expressing concerns about employees’ work ethic and output.
On an encouraging note, South Korea’s leading game and online service provider NHN Corp. just announced it has decided to take its remote work experiment further by making Wednesdays their official “work remote day .” The move comes after overwhelmingly positive feedback from NHN and their affiliates’ employees. [Source: https://pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?sc=30800018&year=2020&no=471263 ]
A Second Look
Perhaps Korean companies should take a second look into creating a smart working environment. Accepting remote work systems that have been embraced in the West will depend greatly on whether companies and society are willing to bring such corporate and cultural changes.. Businesses can improve ROI and save on overhead and rental costs for their offices. Workers, for their part, can reduce their hours’ long commutes and experience increased productivity, as well as foster a better life-work balance.
The COVID-19 outbreak has changed the way people work and their perceptions about work. The virus crisis could provide an opportunity for Korean companies to re-visit and re-evaluate the benefits of smart work approaches to the workplace.
SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) — South Korean IT solution providers are introducing various artificial-intelligence (AI)-based solutions to help the country’s fight against the novel coronavirus, industry insiders said Thursday.
Hancom Group, South Korea’s leading software developer, said it has been offering an AI-powered phone calling system, known as Hancom AI Check25, for free to help local municipalities monitor those in self-quarantine.
The outbound call system asks people about their health conditions and can quickly analyze data from their answers. Its AI voice assistants can make many phone calls at once, allowing authorities to save time and check quarantined people efficiently.
The AI call center platform is currently used by cities, like Seoul and Daegu. Hancom said Naver Business Platform Corp., an IT infrastructure management firm, is also supporting systems by proving cloud infrastructure.
In the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, South Korea’s ICT ministry has since last month been supporting IT firms that develop AI algorithms or solutions for the containment of COVID-19. For more information, please contact Don Southerton
Many of us enjoy learning about the culture and traditions of Korea amid an ever-changing society. This week, on February 19, Daeboreum is observed, celebrating the first full moon of the Lunar New Year. BTW, historic mentions of Daeboreum date back to the 1200s.
Daeboreum (대보름) literally means “great full moon”.
As a cultural observance, Daeboreum is accompanied by tradition, rituals, and foods. As with all cultures, some practices remain more common than others…and there are often variations. That said, in recent years festivals have sought to preserve their traditions.
Common practices may include:
It’s popular to crack nuts (usually peanuts and walnuts) with your teeth, tradition that this will keep your teeth healthy as well as other ills away for the year.
People will cross back and forth on the walk bridges in the evening, the belief that it will make your legs strong and healthy for the new year.
People will brave the cold and climb mountains to catch the first rise of the moon. It is said that the first person to see the moon rise will have good luck all year or a wish will be granted.
A rather visually striking tradition in the countryside and today at festivals is whirling burning charcoal in cans filled with holes. Bonfires today are also common in Daeboreum festivals. Both the falling charcoal embers hitting the ground and the bonfires are tied to when in the past farmers burned dry grass on the ridges between rice fields in preparation for good crops in the new year.
Cisco has been a long time partner of smart city Songdo International Business District. I recall as the city was in its early stages a team of their executives visited Songdo and marveling over the plans.
Datamation.com notes:
Songdo, South Korea
In South Korea, Cisco created a “living lab” called the IoT Cube to drive innovation into the Songdo technology deployed there. South Korea is considered one of the most advanced countries in regard to smart city and Internet technology. Using advanced concepts like fog computing, Cisco was able to demonstrate real-time data tracking and analytics for Songdo’s citizens, which was critical to assuring that resources were where those citizens needed them to be.
This was a very real example of the next generation of 5G wireless networking and became a global showcase for what will be possible. Songdo is yet another Cisco innovation center location.
Korea (as well as China, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore and many Asian countries) celebrate two New Years’– one on Jan. 1 and the Lunar New Yearcelebration.
This year the Lunar holiday falls on Thursday February 15 to Saturday February 17 (Korea time).
In Asian tradition, each Lunar new year has an associated animal, as well as a related element and color such as fire (red), water (black), earth (yellow/gold), metal (white) and wood (blue), all which rotate over a 60 year cycle.
And as examples, we see Lunar years’ referred to as Red (Fire) Monkey, Black (Water) Snake, White (Metal) Dragon, etc. and this year Golden (Earth) Dog.
Adding some significance to 2018, Gold is also the color of royalty and many feel adds to even more good fortune.
For us working with Korean teams, it’s a great time to re-connect.
For your Korean colleagues (in Korea), you can wish them “Happy Lunar New Year” by phone, text, or email, late afternoon on Tuesday February 13th (so, Wednesday AM in Korea, which is their last day in office prior to Holiday).
For expat Koreans working outside Korea/ globally, or in your local operations, you can wish then Happy Lunar New Year on Friday February 16 (in the West).
Here is the formal greeting–Sae hae bok mani ba deu say yo
Give it a try. You will find it will be greatly appreciated.
Question, just reach out to me …dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com
Oh, BTW Korea has a twist on Valentine’s Day! This week women give men small chocolate gifts.
No worries, Koreans’ celebrate a White Holiday in 30 days where men give women sugary treats.
Grinergy CEO: The biggest obstacle in the electric vehicle era is the battery!
Translated by Don Southerton
— Lithium-ion batteries perform poorly in cold weather. Lead-acid batteries are not environmentally friendly.
— alternative, lithium-titanium compound, minus 30 degrees, withstand fast charging,
— buses, ships, heavy-duty ‘multiplier’ market can coexist with lithium-ion
“There are several problems with batteries used in today’s vehicles. Lead-acid batteries are safe, but they pollute the environment and are heavy. Lithium-ion batteries lose their performance significantly when the temperature drops. I think there are batteries that solve these problems. I think the era will come when the existing battery market and new batteries coexist.” Grinergy CEO Sungpang (Scott) Bang
This is a startup that began with the idea that battery technology is a key issue in the era of electric mobility. In Silicon Valley, Sungpang ( Scott) Bang (47, photo)who worked at Tesla, Apple, Byton, and Hyundai, etc., and Samsung Electronics’ former COO Byung-hoon Jeong, who co-founded Grinergy in 2017, are the main characters.
They witnessed early on that the automobile industry was slowly shifting from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, but they realized that current battery technology could not match the tasks that internal combustion engines are doing.
For example, there are problems in that the existing batteries under perform the internal combustion engine in heavy trucks that require strong output or in areas where more than half of the year temperatures falls below -10 degrees Celsius except in the summer.
For this reason, for several years since its establishment in 2017 Grinergy has developed a secondary battery using Lithium Titanium compound (LTO). Currently, 5 patents related to LTO batteries have been registered and 6
applications have been filed. Grinergy co-CEO Bang met with reporters in San Jose, California, USA and said, “LTO batteries are lead-free, so they are more environmentally friendly and work at -30 degrees.”
The typical case use is in electric vehicles and low temperatures. This is because Lithium-ion batteries that power vehicles instead of internal combustion engines perform poorly in low temperatures.This lithium-ion battery operates normally at 10–50 degrees Celsius, and its efficiency drops significantly when the temperature is higher or lower.
More so, in order to upgrade energy sources from internal combustion engines to electricity for transportation means that cars, trucks, heavy equipment, railways, and yachts operating in cold regions have no choice but to look for other alternatives due to the limitations of the existing Lithium-ion batteries.
On the other hand, LTO batteries are resistant to temperature, so they can be charged at -30 degrees Celsius. “We are conducting due diligence evaluations of batteries with a [Korean] military base through a defense venture project,” said CEO Bang. The goal is to prove how much Grinergy’s LTO battery can perform even in cold weather.
In addition, Grinergy is providing products for Korea’s outdoor smart signs. The current batteries powering the smart signs freeze in cold weather and do not work properly.
Grinergy is also paying attention to medium-to-large transportation such as buses, ships, trains, and heavy equipment, markets that are urgently required to be electrified due to the soot and the pollution problems that pose.
In the case of transportation, it is important to increase the mileage by compressing the size and weight of the battery, but it is also more important to increase the output of energy in a short time. CEO Bang said, “Grinergy’s batteries have better performance for these special industries.”
There is a growing possibility that LTO batteries will replace lead-acid batteries used for starting in existing vehicles. Lead-acid batteries are widely used in automobiles because they are very safe. Even electric vehicles such as Tesla contain lead-acid batteries and are used for starting.
Lead-acid batteries are widely used in automobiles because they are very safe.
Even electric vehicles such as Tesla contain lead-acid batteries and are used for starting the vehicle.
However, since the recycling of lead-acid batteries is often done in underdeveloped countries — breaking down of the battery into its raw materials — it causes not only environmental pollution issues but also poses health problems. CEO Bang notes he saw the environmental pollution problem of recycling this lead acid battery and thought about how to solve it.
Of course, LTO batteries are not without their drawbacks. CEO Bang said, “LTO batteries have 10~15% less capacity to the same volume compared to general lithium batteries. In particular, he predicted that lithium-ion batteries and LTO batteries would coexist in the future. CEO Bang explained, “The global battery market is worth close to $1 trillion, but half of the battery market is lithium-ion and the rest is lead-acid batteries.” He added, “LTO batteries can be charged at -30 degrees Celsius, can be charged more than 10 times faster than lithium-ion, and are eco-friendly, so there is a good chance of winning.”
[Silicon Valley = Reporter Shin Hyeon-gyu / Reporter Lee Sang-deok]
[ⓒ Maeil Business & mk.co.kr,]
https://donsoutherton.medium.com/the-biggest-obstacle-in-the-electric-vehicle-era-is-the-battery-56e8a63210b7