The Center for Hybrid Interfacial Chemical Structure, the Center for Climate/Environment Change Prediction Research, and the New and Renewable Energy Research Center received the highest rank in evaluations for government-supported projects, demonstrating Ewha’s capabilities as an outstanding research university.
First, the Center for Hybrid Interfacial Chemical Structure (Director: Park, So-Jung) achieved the highest grade of “S” in the phase assessment for Science Research Center, supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF). Ewha’s Center for Hybrid Interfacial Chemical Structure (CICS), a Science Research Center supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the NRF, was established in 2017 to conduct research on the interfacial phenomena of hybrid materials. The center achieved outstanding research outcomes with the support of research funding amounting to a total of 4.9 billion KRW as of this year, leading the fundamental research on hybrid chemical materials. For the second stage project (March 1, 2021 – February 28, 2024), the center will receive 3.9 billion KRW to continue its study on understanding the mechanism behind the interfacial phenomena with the anticipation of establishing design rules for new high performance chemical materials in energy and nano/bio fields.
The Center for Climate/Environment Change Prediction Research (Director: Choi Yong-Sang) acquired the highest grade of “S” in the first-stage project evaluation under the Priority Research Institute Program in science and engineering, which is supported by an NRF grant funded by the Ministry of Education. The Center for Climate/Environment Change Prediction Research was designated as a priority research center for climate change in 2018 and has since conducted research in the said field, supported by a research fund amounting to a total of 6.2 billion KRW. In the evaluation at the first stage of the project, the center received excellent reviews in the categories of academic achievements, training of talented individuals, and social contribution under the aim of addressing climate change. At the second stage of the project, in line with the change of landscape regarding the goal of global carbon neutrality and the great energy transition, the center plans to continue to strengthen the convergence research of climate change and energy. In addition, various roles as climate change designated research institutes are expected through the international climate response through Green Climate Fund project targeting the Pacific Island, climate risk research with major domestic companies, and proceeding with a wide range of collaborative research-education programs.
The New and Renewable Energy Research Center (Director: Jo William) also achieved excellent results in the first-stage project evaluation of the Priority Research Institute Program in science and engineering. Since 2018, the center has been conducting a research project titled “A research institute for multi-dimensional materials-based quantum transport energy,” funded with a total of 6 billion KRW. Following the first-phase study aiming at “creating next-generation energy sources using composite structures and elements based on multi-dimensional new materials,” the center will conduct a study with the goal of “understanding the synthesis of new organic-inorganic hybrid materials and quantum transport properties based on multiple dimensions” in the second phase. In addition, it plans to secure core technologies based on newly issued patents and pursue to creative new venture companies. Eventually, the center will develop industry-adapted science and technology towards solar cells and fuels and batteries for carbon-neutral environment and societies.
The importance of basic science research and R&D projects in science, technology and ICT is continuing to rise as part of efforts to transition into an advanced economy that is prepared for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Amidst this context, Ewha, which has achieved excellent research outcomes based on its internationally recognized research capacity and global research networks, is planning to further consolidate its status as an outstanding research university through active investments to enhance its research capabilities.
