HD Hyundai Forms 'AI Technology Alliance' in Shipbuilding and Marine Sectors

Following the establishment of the “AI Transformation (AIX) Promotion Office,” a new integrated artificial intelligence (AI) organization reporting directly to the CEO of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai is accelerating industry-academia cooperation to foster an AI ecosystem in the shipbuilding and marine sectors.

On November 20, at the HD Hyundai Global Research and Development Center (GRC Center) in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, HD Hyundai signed the “AI Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Shipbuilding and Marine Industry” with UNIST and Ulsan University. Key figures such as Jung Ki-sun, Chairman of HD Hyundai, Chong Rae Park, President of UNIST, and Oh Yeon-cheon, President of Ulsan University, attended the event. Bae Kyung-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, and Park Dong-il, Director General for Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, were also present. Deputy Prime Minister Bae visited the venue immediately after returning from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), stating, “We also held in-depth discussions on close cooperation with the UAE in the shipbuilding sector.”

Chong Rae Park, President of UNIST (front row, left), Jung Kiseon, Chairman of HD Hyundai, and Baek Kyunghun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, are moving to sign the 'AI Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Shipbuilding and Maritime Industry' with UNIST and Ulsan University at the HD Hyundai Global Research and Development Center (GRC Center) in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 20th. Seongnam ? Photo by Oh Jieun

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The MOU signed on this day aims to: ▲ Jointly create digital strategic assets ▲ Foster AI and advanced technology professionals ▲ Revitalize the regional industrial ecosystem. HD Hyundai plans to coordinate the development of key new technologies at the group level-including future-oriented shipyards (FOS), AI navigation solutions, unmanned construction equipment, and robotics-through academic and research collaboration.

Chairman Jung personally led the tour of mock-up prototypes that will be exhibited at CES, the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT trade show in the United States. He introduced core technologies such as futuristic ship and special vessel models, as well as unmanned equipment that HD Hyundai is preparing to showcase. He also highlighted technologies that reduce friction between the ship’s hull and the sea to improve operational efficiency. Attendees explored ideas for applying AI and digital technologies to the shipbuilding and marine sectors together. The event continued with a reception in the lounge on the fifth floor, a presentation on manufacturing AX initiatives, and the official signing ceremony. The event was hosted by Kim Youngok, Chief AI Officer (CAIO) of HD Hyundai.

Image of HD Hyundai's AI-based navigation solution 'OceanWise'. HD Hyundai

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This collaboration is directly linked to HD Hyundai’s recent organizational restructuring, which elevated AI functions to a headquarters-level unit by consolidating them under the “AIX Promotion Office” reporting to Kim Hyungkwan, President of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering. The integration of the AI Center and the Digital Transformation (DT) Innovation Office, previously under the Future Technology Research Institute, into a single system is intended to speed up decision-making and enhance the efficiency of technology development.

The AIX Promotion Office unifies the group’s AI research organization (AI Center) and the development of design, process, and management software (DT Innovation Office) to oversee the application of AI throughout ship design, process optimization, and overall management. Given the vast amount of design data accumulated in the shipbuilding industry, priorities include AI-based design automation and integration with next-generation platforms.

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