If the past 30 years were a time to build a bridge between Korea and Europe, the next 30 years will be a time to cross that bridge together to create a better future. We will make the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Europe the most trusted bridge connecting research innovation between Korea and Europe.
KIST Europe, Korea's only research cooperation base in Europe and a bridge between the two sides, marked its 30th anniversary on the 17th and declared a leap forward as a new global hub for research collaboration.
Established in 1996 in Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany, KIST Europe built its research base with support from the German government and Saarland, then expanded its cooperation network by steadily growing international joint research with major institutions worldwide. It has served as a base supporting Korean research institutes and corporations entering Europe and acted as a bridge for cooperation on European environmental regulations and pandemic responses.
With Korea joining Horizon Europe, the world's largest multilateral innovation research program, as an associate member last year, KIST Europe's role is growing even larger. It achieved the first-ever award of a Horizon Europe research project for Korea and was designated as a Global Key Innovation Center (G-KIC) by the Ministry of Science and ICT, taking on a key role in supporting European research and development (R&D) and technology commercialization for research sites and corporations.
Marking its 30th anniversary that day, KIST Europe unveiled a new slogan, "BRIDGE to YOU," officially signaling an expanded role. KIST said it ties into the institute's 60th anniversary slogan this year, "RE:TURN to YOU," which means returning the fruits of its work to the public, and adds the meaning of returning its network to the public as well.
Reflecting this, the 30-year vision ahead emphasizes leading Korea-European Union (EU) joint research as a "research bridge," an innovation gateway that supports Korean corporations entering Europe and commercializing technology, and stronger functions as a platform driving AI-based research innovation. It redefined its role beyond simple research to include supporting EU joint research, aiding Korean corporations' entry into Europe, and providing AI-based support.
In particular, through the "THE (Toward Horizon Europe) Bridge Center" established last year, it aims to provide end-to-end support—from analysis of EU multilateral cooperation policies to institutional onboarding, project management, and dissemination of outcomes. To that end, KIST said it has ramped up its support functions, including operating a Horizon Europe help desk since June.
At the ceremony held in the festival hall of St. Johann City Hall in Saarbrücken, key state officials, including Saarland Minister and Deputy Governor Jürgen Barke, Saarbrücken Deputy Mayor Barbara Meyer, and Saarland University Vice President Dominik Brodowski, attended, reflecting strong local interest.
Deputy Governor Barke said, "KIST Europe is a bridge through which Korea's science and industry enter Europe, and at the same time a bridge through which we connect with Korea," adding, "It plays an important role and creates synergy in Saarland's innovation ecosystem, and we want to further expand this cooperation going forward."
He also surprised KIST President Oh Sang-rok at the event by presenting him with the Saarland Order of Merit. The German state government's orders of merit are regarded as the highest honors awarded by each state to individuals who have made major contributions to regional development in politics, the economy, science, and culture.
From Korea, key KIST officials attended along with Ambassador to Germany Lim Sang-beom, National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST) Chair Kim Young-sik, The Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies (KOFST) President Kwon Oh-nam, and National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Secretary-General Lee Seok-rae, and about 120 people filled the hall.
At the event, the Deputy Governor Barke and others presented the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Science and ICT Minister's Award to Baek Seung-yoon, the project leader who led the first Horizon Europe selection; former administrator Jung Ok Arnholdt, who worked at the Europe office for 30 years; and the late Dr. Lee Jae-ho, who died in a traffic accident in 2024 while working at the Europe office. A Minister's Award from the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy was presented to KIST Europe Research Coordinator Kim Sang-won.
In a commemorative address, President Oh said, "Based on the research capabilities and local networks accumulated over the past 30 years, we can make a much greater leap as a bridge for global cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Europe," adding, "I hope KIST Europe will continue to expand cooperation with the world's top research institutes and grow into a research hub that leads global joint research and technological innovation, becoming a new bridge that connects the world and the future."
KIST Europe Director Kim Jin-sang said, "The greatest achievement of the past 30 years is the trust we have built with diverse partners in the Republic of Korea and Europe," adding, "Centering on the THE Bridge Center, we will vitalize international joint research and expand research on future core technologies in advanced bio, energy and environment, and AI convergence, and we will be reborn as the most trusted bridge for research cooperation connecting the Republic of Korea and Europe."