Busan Port Accelerates AI Smart Port Development... BPA and Hyundai Motor Discuss Cooperation on Autonomous Driving and Energy

Busan Port is accelerating the development of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based smart port. Busan Port Authority and Hyundai Motor Group have discussed cooperation measures to integrate autonomous driving, robotics, and eco-friendly energy technologies into port operations.

Busan Port Authority (BPA; President Song Sangkeun) announced that on the 11th, it held the "BPA-Hyundai Motor First Half Technology Exchange Meeting" at Zero One Studio in Gangnam, Seoul, attended by representatives from Hyundai Motor, its affiliates, and startups.

This exchange meeting was organized as a follow-up discussion to the "Technical Cooperation Agreement for Implementing AI-based Smart Ports and Expanding the Startup Ecosystem" signed between the two organizations last year. It also served to concretize cooperation following the AI-based smart port technology seminar held at Busan Port Authority last year.

Busan Port Authority held the "BPA-Hyundai Motor Midyear Technology Exchange Meeting" on the 11th at Zero One Studio in Gangnam, Seoul, with representatives from Hyundai Motor, its group companies, and startups in attendance.

The event was attended by Executive Vice President of Management Jung Wondong and staff from the Digital AI Department at Busan Port Authority. On the Hyundai Motor side, major affiliates such as Hyundai Glovis, Hyundai Rotem, Hyundai AutoEver, Hyundai Wia, Hyundai Kefico, and Innocean participated, along with startup representatives from Wearbe, H Charging Lab, Poen, Wondermove, and Autoel.

Busan Port Authority introduced the current status of its digital transformation (DX) and AI transformation (AX) initiatives for Busan Port, and shared its operation plans for "Chain Portal," an integrated logistics platform for the port.

Chain Portal is a platform that links maritime, port, and land logistics data based on blockchain technology. It operates the Port Vehicle Booking System (VBS), Transshipment Transport System (TSS), Electronic Delivery Order (E-Slip), AI-based transshipment monitoring system "Port-i," among others.

By leading with Chain Portal, Busan Port Authority has been recognized for improving operational efficiency at the port. As a result, it received the "Global Future Fit Seal Award" at the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai, UAE, in February this year, and was awarded the Presidential Citation at the Korea Logistics Awards in 2023.

Participants at the event focused on the potential application of AI, autonomous driving, robotics, charging infrastructure, and eco-friendly energy technologies at the port. In particular, they discussed ways to link Hyundai Motor's ongoing charging and energy ecosystem initiatives with smart port operation technologies.

The two sides plan to pursue step-by-step cooperation, including proof of concept (PoC), pilot tests, joint research, demonstration projects, and the identification of commercialization models. They also agreed to continuously discover cooperative projects and further detail Busan Port's AI and digital transformation strategies through regular technology exchange meetings.

Song Sangkeun, President of Busan Port Authority, emphasized, "While last year's agreement and technology seminar laid the foundation for cooperation, this exchange meeting is a step toward concretizing actual cooperation measures. Together with Hyundai Motor and participating companies, we will advance the transition to an AI-based smart port at Busan Port in a phased manner."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.