Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute Unveils New Vision, 'One-Stop Climate and Environment Partner'... Targets KRW 40 Trillion in Environmental Industry Growth and 10 Million Tons in Carbon Cuts

The Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI), led by President Nam Gwangwoo, has unveiled a new vision: “A one-stop climate and environment partner leading the global green transition,” and set numerical targets for five management goals. It will also reorganize its structure and programs to foster climate tech and drive work innovation through artificial intelligence (AI).

At the Vision Committee launch ceremony held on November 6 at the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, executives, staff and experts, including Nam Gwangwoo, president of the institute and co-chair of the Vision Committee (fifth from left), and Lee Jongwook, a professor at Seoul National University of Science and Technology (sixth from left), cheer together. The Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute

On November 6, the institute held a vision declaration ceremony at its headquarters in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, and announced its mid- to long-term management strategy and plans to improve its organizational, personnel and business operations. In May, the institute formed a Vision Committee with participation from labor and management and internal and external experts, and held six meetings through September. After conducting employee surveys and interviews and consulting external experts, it identified the institute’s future role and tasks for improving its management.

The new vision aims to strengthen the institute’s role in providing integrated support for the climate and environment sectors, building on its existing mission to drive environmental technology innovation, foster the environmental industry and protect public health from environmental hazards. Its core values are summed up in “B.R.I.D.G.E.,” an acronym for Beyond, Responsibility, Innovation, Data-Based, Green Transition and Ecosystem Development.

The institute set five management goals: ▲a 70% utilization rate for climate and environmental technology outcomes ▲KRW 40 trillion in growth for environmental industry companies ▲10 million tons of CO2 in carbon reduction ▲a score of 90 on the public’s perceived environmental health satisfaction index ▲an S grade on the management improvement index. Its strategic directions for achieving these goals are ▲promoting climate and environmental technology innovation ▲fostering green industries as growth engines ▲expanding the green transition across the economy and society ▲building an environmental health system that gives the public peace of mind ▲achieving management innovation to drive future growth.

In detail, the institute will reorganize its structure to strengthen its finance, safety and victim support functions. It will establish a Management Support Office to enhance financial and accounting expertise, and set up a Safety Management Office directly under the president to strengthen accountability for safety. It will also establish a new Humidifier Disinfectant Victim Support Office to bolster victim assistance. The existing ESG (environmental, social and governance) Infrastructure Support Group will be expanded and reorganized into a Green Transition Office in 2027 to implement the Korea Green Transformation (K-GX) strategy.

The institute is working on introducing a job-based personnel and performance management system and measures to improve the differentiation and fairness of performance evaluations. It has also launched initiatives to foster an employee-participatory culture of integrity, including an institute-wide integrity idea contest and integrity talk concerts involving the president and employees.

The institute will restructure its business portfolio from 2027 to align with its mid- to long-term strategy. Its previously dispersed startup and commercialization support programs will be consolidated under “Support for Fostering Future Environmental Companies,” and a new loan program will be launched to foster the climate tech industry. It will also expand financial support options to help high-carbon-emitting industries, including steel and cement, transition to low-carbon and environmentally friendly operations. The institute will support the development of future technologies with tangible benefits for the public in four key areas: carbon neutrality, water management, resource circulation and environmental safety nets.

Nam Gwangwoo, President of the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute

The institute is also stepping up work innovation through artificial intelligence (AI). Its employee-participatory “AI Eco Innovation Lab” is expected to save 6,718 work hours annually. A dedicated team will support AI transformation (AX) at small and medium-sized environmental companies, as well as mid-sized companies, and improve the efficiency of services for businesses, including by simplifying application documents.

President Nam Gwangwoo said, “Over the past six months, labor and management and internal and external experts have worked together to consider the institute’s role and future direction and develop a management strategy. We will strengthen our expertise and ability to deliver so that the new vision leads to tangible results for the public and businesses, rather than remaining just a declaration.”

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