KAI Hosts 24th Aerospace Thesis Award Competition to Discover Talented Aerospace Professionals
Total Prize Money at KRW 38 Million, Up KRW 10 Million From Last Year
Recruiting in Five Fields: Mechanics, Materials, Electronics and Electrical, Software, and Policy/Management
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is holding the 24th Aerospace Thesis Award competition to identify talented individuals who will lead the future of the aerospace industry and to spur research activity.
The competition, hosted by KAI and supported by the Korea Aerospace Administration, the Korea Aerospace Industries Association, and the Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences, began accepting thesis submissions on August 24. The application period runs until September 24. Any university or graduate student in Korea with an interest in aerospace may participate.
The KAI Aerospace Thesis Award is the nation’s only aerospace competition that has been spearheaded by a private company for more than 20 years. It is credited with strengthening Korea’s aerospace competitiveness by producing top talent who have gone on to careers in both related industry and academia.
This year, award prize amounts will be significantly increased compared to the previous year. The top prizes—awarded by the head of the Korea Aerospace Administration and the KAI CEO—will be KRW 10 million each (increased by KRW 5 million), presented to two individuals. The excellence prizes will be KRW 5 million each (increased by KRW 1 million), also awarded to two individuals.
Main authors of winning papers will receive the additional benefit of exemption from document review for KAI’s open recruitment of new employees.
The major technology-based competition fields include mechanics and materials·process, electronics·electrical, software, and policy·management—covering five areas. Key business application fields, aligned with KAI’s future core projects, include manned-unmanned teaming systems (MUM-T), future software, next-generation platforms (fixed-wing, rotary-wing, unmanned, and civil aircraft), space solutions, and future air vehicles (AAV).
Papers will be jointly reviewed by KAI and the Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences. After the announcement of winners in early November, the award ceremony is expected to take place at the end of November.
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Kim Jongchul, President of KAI, said, “The aerospace industry is not only a future core industry with limitless potential for growth, but is also a critical source of national competitiveness that requires nurturing and support for related talent. The expansion of award funding is intended to encourage interest from more young and outstanding individuals, actively fostering the aerospace ecosystem by setting an example.”
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