KIMM Awards the "2024 Award for Best Research" to Principal Researcher Cheol-Hoon Park

for "Bionic Suit Based on Artificial Muscles" 

- KIMM holds its 48th Anniversary Ceremony at its main headquarter in Daejeon on Wednesday, December 18 -

- The event includes award ceremonies, KIMM Town Hall Meeting,

and time for employees to share the vision and foster encouragement -

< President Seog-Hyeon Ryu of KIMM delivers the anniversary speech >

□ The Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (President Seog-Hyeon Ryu, hereinafter referred to as KIMM) celebrated its 48th anniversary on December 18 (Wed.) at its main headquarters in Daejeon, where it held its Anniversary Ceremony and awarded the “2024 Award for Best Research” to Principal Researcher Cheol-Hoon Park of the Advanced Robotics Research Center for his research on the “Bionic Suit Based on Artificial Muscles.”.

* The “KIMM Award for Best Research” was first established in 1993, and is presented annually to researchers who have achieved exceptional research outcomes and contributed to the scientific and industrial communities.

□ The selected Bionic Suit is made of “muscle fabric” created by weaving shape memory alloy (SMA) wires, which are half the thickness of a human hair, into a coil-shaped thread and interlacing them like fabric. This technology enables the fabric to exert force like a muscle and lift loads up to 1,000 times its own weight, positioning it as a core technology for developing wearable robots.

  
< Principal Researcher Cheol-Hoon Park of the Advanced Robotics Research Center, recipient of the "2024 Award for Best Research" >

□ The Bionic Suit weighs less than 1 kg and can be worn comfortably like everyday clothing. Its low production cost allows for widespread adoption across diverse consumer groups. The technology is expected to significantly aid elderly individuals and those with physical weaknesses by supporting mobility and independent living. Additionally, it holds great potential for preventing musculoskeletal disorders among workers in caregiving, logistics, construction, and agricultural sectors.

□ This technology, regarded as the world’s first and highest-level innovation in actuators and wearable robotics, is also expected to create new markets and foster collaborative growth across various industries, including robotics, materials, textiles, apparel, and fashion.

□ Principal Researcher Cheol-Hoon Park stated, “I have worked tirelessly to develop technologies that can truly improve people’s daily lives. I hope the Bionic Suit will help the elderly and workers live more comfortably and safely. I will continue striving to develop technologies that bring hope to more people.”

□ The 48th Anniversary Ceremony at KIMM brought together all members to reflect on the achievements of 2024, share the institute’s vision and core values, and commit to a new leap forward in 2025.

□ The ceremony also recognized outstanding contributions from employees, including the Award for Best Research and the Award for Best Administration (Principal Administrator Hye-Jung Jo). A newly introduced KIMM PR Award (Grand Award awarded to Principal Researcher Sung-Hyuk Song) honored employees who contributed to raising external awareness of KIMM’s research outcomes. Other awards included the Startup Competition Award (awarded to Principal Researcher Duck-Gyu Lee) for proposing innovative ideas and business models and the Basic Research Excellence Award (awarded to Principal Researcher Woo-Seok Kang) to encourage excellent basic research.

 
< (Left) Principal Administrator Hye-Jung Jo, recipient of the Award for Best Administration,
(Right) Principal Researcher Sung-Hyuk Song, Grand Award recipient of the KIMM PR Award >

 
< (Left) Principal Researcher Duck-Gyu Lee, recipient of the Startup Competition Award,
(Right) Principal Researcher Woo-Seok Kang, recipient of the Basic Research Excellence Award >

□ Following the awards ceremonies, the event featured the KIMM Town Hall Meeting to share KIMM’s vision and core values, along with performances such as the employee band “KIMMY WAVE” and the “KIMM Masked Singer Contest,” fostering communication and camaraderie among fellow KIMM members.

 
< KIMM Town Hall Meeting discussion session >

□ In his remarks at the Anniversary Ceremony, KIMM President Seog-Hyeon Ryu stated, “In our 48th year, we have pursued organizational restructuring and vision-setting to achieve Digital-KIMM 2030 and elevate KIMM into a globally recognized research institution. This year, we focused on AI/DX innovation, technology commercialization, and expanding research outcomes. Building on our 48 years of accomplishments and traditions, now is the time for us to come together to seize new opportunities and lead change as we look toward the next 50 years.”