News Story

Korea Institute of Materials Science

Tuesday 16 Sep 2025

In May 2025, Dr. Ho Kyeom Kim and Dr. Richard Moat from the School of Engineering & Innovation (E&I) visited the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) in South Korea to deliver seminars on ongoing materials research at the Open University (OU). Their visit was part of a series of celebrations relating to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the OU and KIMS.

The MoU was established on the basis of shared research interests in future materials and the structural integrity of critical engineering components for the aerospace, nuclear, and hydrogen sectors. A key focus is addressing challenges such as managing residual stress and advancing material characterisation under extreme environmental conditions. In addition to technical collaboration, the MoU also aims to strengthen the joint UK–Korea research community.

During their visit, Dr. Ho Kyeom Kim and Dr. Richard Moat were also invited by other research institutes and industrial partners to give talks, including the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI), and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). The Open University’s expertise in residual stress measurement across a wide range of engineering applications drew particular interest and initiated discussions on potential collaborative projects.

For more information about the MoU, collaborative projects, and opportunities, please contact Ho.Kim@open.ac.uk