Jang Inhwa: "Technology Is the Driving Force Behind Increasing Resource Value"... POSCO Group Tech Forum

38th Tech Forum held in Gwangyang; more than 800 attend
Strategies discussed for responding to the energy transition and AI transformation
Ultra-corrosion-resistant steel sheet and metalens mass-production technology win "Technology Awards"

POSCO Group has decided to strengthen the execution of its "Triple Core" strategy through technological innovation.

At a secondary battery technology exhibition booth at the POSCO Group Tech Forum, Chairman Jang In-hwa listens as Hong Jeong-jin, head of the Energy Materials Research Institute, explains high-density LFP technology. POSCO

POSCO Group said on November 11 that it held the 38th POSCO Group Tech Forum in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, for two days starting November 10. More than 800 people attended, including Chairman Jang Inhwa, heads of key affiliates, employees, and Latorre, chief operating officer (COO) of JSW Steel India. They discussed strategies for responding to the energy transition and plans to advance the AI transformation (AX).

In his opening remarks, Chairman Jang stressed, "Our technological capabilities are the driving force that increases the value of resources and turns them into tangible results." He also called for a shift in perspective on technology development, saying, "We must create new value and expand our business areas through software-based technology commercialization, where the technology itself becomes a product."

The event also featured the POSCO Technology Awards and the inaugural POSCO Group AX Awards. Fourteen projects were selected for the Technology Awards. This year, POSCO Group raised the top prize from 100 million won to 150 million won.

One grand prize was awarded in each of the steel and new growth categories. In the steel category, POSCO won for its PosMAC Super ultra-corrosion-resistant coated steel sheet. It was recognized as a key product for targeting the rapidly growing market for steel used in renewable energy, as it maintains corrosion resistance even in highly corrosive environments such as marine settings and saline soils.

In the new growth category, the grand prize went to mass-production technology for metalenses for augmented reality (AR) devices, jointly developed by the Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology (RIST) and POSTECH. A metalens is a next-generation lens that controls light using nanostructures on a flat surface. It is thinner and lighter than conventional refractive lenses and could be used to make smart devices such as AR glasses smaller.

The POSCO Pohang Quality Technology Department received the top prize in the AX Awards. It improved slab quality assessment by using physical analysis and AI. The achievement was recognized as an example of field engineers directly incorporating AI algorithms to boost productivity.

Since Chairman Jang took office, POSCO Group has worked to strengthen the competitiveness of high-value-added steel products and advance processing technologies for strategic resources such as lithium, with the goal of securing "absolute technological superiority." Building on this, the group plans to fully implement its Triple Core strategy, spanning industrial, strategic, and energy resources.

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