HD Hyundai Samho is strengthening open innovation with startups to improve productivity and enhance safety at shipyard worksites. Going beyond simply reviewing external technologies, it is building a system to identify technologies that can be applied to actual shipyard work environments, test them, and move them into commercialization. In particular, it is taking the lead in groupwide on-site technology innovation by linking with HD Hyundai Group's AI transformation (AX).
Park Gwang-yeol, head of the strategy planning team at HD Hyundai Samho, said in an interview with ChosunBiz on the 4th, "We are building a field-centered technology commercialization system together with external technology partners, including startups, small and midsize companies, and research institutes," and added, "Shipbuilding involves complex processes and high safety requirements, so we prioritize whether the technology has 'on-site suitability' when collaborating with startups."
Park is in charge of applying and verifying (POC) new technologies through open innovation at HD Hyundai Samho. Since last year, HD Hyundai Samho has been running open innovation programs with Creative Economy Innovation Centers nationwide, including in Seoul, Ulsan, and South Jeolla.
Startups grow by supplying technology and products to large corporations, which are demand-side corporations. But early-stage startups without portfolios find it difficult to network with large corporations.
HD Hyundai Samho offers startups these growth opportunities. Of course, HD Hyundai Samho can also achieve results, such as improving productivity by verifying and applying startups' technologies on site.
In particular, shipbuilding is an industry with complex processes and high dependence on equipment and manpower, making manufacturing innovation difficult with existing methods alone. Park said, "Startups are strong in agility and creative technological approaches, offering the potential to solve on-site challenges at large shipyards in new ways."
In open innovation with startups, HD Hyundai Samho places importance on on-site suitability, vision and sustainability, and safety. Park said, "Shipyards are demanding due to extreme environments, so it is important whether the technology can solve real on-site problems," and added, "We consider not only short-term PoC results but also whether partner startups can grow over the long term and whether the technology is safe."
HD Hyundai Samho operates a step-by-step technology verification process to adopt startups' technologies. It goes through processes such as identifying the needs of shipyard workers, testing pilot prototypes, and advancing products.
HD Hyundai Samho's open innovation program is already producing tangible results on site. Cases are increasing in which startup technologies are tested in real shipyard environments and their commercialization potential is confirmed.
The most notable case is an AI-based automatic inspection technology for steel quality. It has been confirmed to block, at an early stage, defects and manual corrections that repeatedly occurred in subsequent shipyard processes, and the company is currently reviewing application to production lines.
In addition, a LiDAR-based forklift-worker collision prevention control system analyzes forklift movements and worker paths in real time to detect dangerous situations in advance. Considering the characteristics of shipyard work environments, it is evaluated as a technology that can significantly raise safety levels. A sensor system that detects argon gas, which can leak during work inside ships, in real time was also piloted, yielding meaningful results in reducing the risk of confined space work.
Park said, "Startups can verify their technologies at large corporations' worksites and lay the groundwork for growth, and we can approach problems that were difficult to solve with existing methods from a new perspective," adding, "Our strengths are clear and can create strong synergy."
HD Hyundai Samho will further strengthen open innovation to improve productivity in areas such as robotics, AI, safety, and logistics automation. It also plans to make the introduction of ESG-based technologies for eco-friendly process transitions and carbon reduction a key pillar, and to pursue an open innovation strategy that strengthens the shipyard's sustainability and competitiveness.