"K-Beauty Meets Advanced Science"... Cosmax Signs MOU with Pohang Accelerator Laboratory

Analyzing with Light Over 10 Billion Times Brighter Than Sunlight
From Basic to Color and Hair Cosmetics

Cosmax announced on August 18 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL) for the joint development of new cosmetics using advanced scientific and technological infrastructure.

The signing ceremony, held on August 14 at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, was attended by Kyungsoo Lee, Chairman of Cosmax Group, Jaeyoung Kim, Director of Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, and other key representatives from both organizations.

At the MOU signing ceremony held on the 14th at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Kyungsoo Lee, Chairman of Cosmax Group (left), and Jaeyoung Kim, Director of the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, are taking a commemorative photo. Cosmax

The Pohang Light Source (PLS-II), operated by the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, is an advanced research infrastructure capable of generating light more than 10 billion times brighter than sunlight, allowing for the high-precision analysis of material structures at the atomic level on a nanometric scale. Since its opening in 1995, it has supported approximately 100,000 researchers both domestically and internationally, as well as more than 28,000 research projects over the past 30 years. More than 11,000 SCI-level academic papers have been produced across all fields of science, including new pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and advanced materials.

Cosmax has previously leveraged the synchrotron radiation accelerator at PAL to develop technology in basic cosmetics skin delivery systems, such as liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, and liquid crystal emulsions. Revenue from skin delivery systems, which began at around KRW 6 billion in 2021, is expected to reach approximately KRW 100 billion this year. In recognition of its achievements in technology development and industrialization, Cosmax received the Jang Yeong-sil Award, organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT, in both 2021 and 2024.

Through this MOU, Cosmax will expand its research scope from existing collaborations focused on basic cosmetics to include sunscreens, color cosmetics, and hair products. To achieve this, both organizations have formalized an ongoing collaborative system to strategically combine their respective strengths. The plan is to apply the synchrotron radiation accelerator across all areas of cosmetics research, thereby laying the foundation to become a global leader in the cosmetics market.

The main research areas are: 1) nano-structure studies of skin delivery systems like liposomes; 2) research on structural changes in skin and cosmetic films after the application of sunscreens and color cosmetics; 3) research on hair structure; and 4) structural studies of cosmetic ingredients. In addition to these core topics, the two organizations will continue to identify and expand additional research fields where the synchrotron radiation accelerator can be integrated with cosmetics-related technologies.

Kyungsoo Lee, Chairman of Cosmax Group, stated, "This MOU is a strategic decision to further focus and maximize the capabilities of both organizations, building on the successes of our collaboration to date." He emphasized, "By applying advanced accelerator research to the cosmetics field, we will establish a strong scientific foundation for K-beauty and take the lead in building a premium image for K-beauty in the global market."

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