The Institute of Space Systems Technology at our university signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Institute of Aerospace Engineering (Institut für Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik, ILR) at Technische Universität Dresden in Germany on July 27. The signing ceremony was held in the president’s reception room at the university’s main building.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will cooperate in identifying joint research topics in the aerospace field, carrying out joint research and development projects, and jointly organizing and mutually inviting participants to academic events such as workshops and seminars.

Founded in 1828, TU Dresden is a member of TU9, an alliance of nine leading technical universities in Germany. It was designated a University of Excellence in 2012 under the Excellence Strategy jointly promoted by the German federal and state governments and has maintained this status ever since. The ILR, the institute that signed the agreement, is a research institute within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. It conducts research across the aerospace field, including aircraft structural design, flight control, space propulsion systems, and highly integrated satellite systems.

The Institute of Space Systems Technology at our university was established in May 2023 as an affiliated research institute to bring together the university’s capabilities in space research and development. Its research covers a broad range of areas, from system design to mechanical and electronic engineering and artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on satellite platforms and payload technologies. The institute also works to develop space-industry professionals in response to the needs of government and industry.

The signing ceremony was attended by President Heo Hee-young; Oh Hyun-woong, Director of the Institute of Space Systems Technology; Professors Kim Byung-kyu, Cho Sung-geon, and Choi Seok-min; and Martin Tajmar, Director of the Institute of Aerospace Engineering at TU Dresden. The participants introduced their respective institutions and exchanged views on future areas of cooperation.

Martin Tajmar said, “I hope that the research capabilities of the two institutions will lead to tangible results through European collaborative research programs. Korea and Europe should work together to strengthen the global competitiveness of the space industry through innovative technologies and close international cooperation.”

Oh Hyun-woong said, “Building on this agreement, we will actively pursue joint research in the aerospace field and identify international collaborative research projects by linking the research capabilities of the two institutions. We will also expand exchanges between students and researchers to establish a sustainable framework for international cooperation.”