KIST to hold '2026 KCCI'

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The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Jeonbuk Composite Materials Research Institute announced on the 23rd that it will hold the "2026 KCCI (KIST Composite Conference International)" on the 6th of next month at the main auditorium of the KIST Jeonbuk Branch in Wanju, Jeonbuk.

The event will be attended by representatives from research institutions and universities, as well as companies in the space and materials sectors, including JAXA; the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA); the Korea Aerospace Research Institute; the Korea Institute of Materials Science; the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute; the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST); and Seoul National University.

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Jeonbuk Composite Materials Research Institute is a member of the 'K-Space Forum,' a private space industry network operated by Money Today. On this day, the institute also invited numerous forum member companies to expand opportunities for technology exchange and joint research and development (R&D) cooperation between institutional investors and private space enterprises.

This event will introduce various technologies aimed at solving challenges in the space industry, ranging from high-temperature polyimide and carbon fiber composites to silicon carbide (SiC) fibers, ceramic matrix composites (CMC), radiation shielding materials, spacesuit materials, and materials for very low Earth orbit (VLEO) propulsion systems.

The most anticipated speaker is Dr. Yuichi Ishida of Japan's JAXA. Lee Si-da (Dr.) is an expert who has conducted research on high-temperature polymers and polyimide composite materials for aerospace applications in the JAXA Aerospace Technology Division for over 20 years. After earning bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from Tokyo Institute of Technology, he worked as a researcher at Sumitomo Bakelite before joining JAXA in 2003 to conduct research. His current main areas of study include polyimide composites for aerospace applications, high-temperature polymers, and polymer synthesis.

On this day, Lee Si-da (Dr.) will deliver a presentation on the topic of "Development of TriA-X polyimide/carbon fiber composites manufactured using imide solution prepreg."

The Lee Si-da (Dr.) research team developed a special plastic material called 'TriA-X polyimide,' which does not easily deform even at high temperatures, and combined it with lightweight and strong carbon fiber to create a composite material for aerospace applications.

The research team created a thin layer of the material and stacked multiple layers to produce a composite with a thickness of 8.8mm. As a result, they achieved a stable structure with almost no voids or cracks inside, and confirmed high heat resistance that allows the material to maintain its properties even at high temperatures of 365℃.

It is explained that spacecraft and launch vehicles are exposed to extreme temperature changes during flight, making such lightweight yet heat-resistant materials a key technology for reducing the weight of space structures and enhancing their safety.

Domestic presenters will also unveil a wide range of materials technologies essential for next-generation space exploration.

Kang Kyung-in, Joo Hang-gong-cheong (Director), will introduce the roadmap and exploration strategy for space science and exploration. While outlining the government's lunar and Mars exploration strategies and key technologies needed in the future, she is expected to present the policy and industrial directions for upcoming space material technologies.

KIST Center Director Yoo Jae-sang will present the status of developing a next-generation space mobility platform based on AI, featuring radiation shielding, ultra-lightweight design, and active terrain adaptation. The core challenge lies in making the structure of exploration rovers that operate in environments with irregular terrain and high radiation levels, such as on the Moon and Mars, as light and strong as possible.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute Ryu Dong-seok (Dr.) will announce the need for lunar exploration mobility and advanced materials, while UEL Lee Jae-ho (Dr.) will present the demand for composite materials from an industry perspective and the direction of private-led rover system development.

Space radiation issues are also a major agenda item. Space&Bin Min Gyeong-ryeong (CEO) announced integrated shielding material technology to protect electronic equipment in extreme space environments, and KAIST Kim Hyeon-jeong (Prof.) introduced space environment simulation and testing technologies to verify the performance and reliability of materials prior to their deployment in actual space missions.

KIST Joo Yong-ho (Dr.) introduces a multi-radiation shielding composite material that combines boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) to achieve elasticity and 3D printing capabilities.

Next, Deck Carbon's Director Lim Dong-won will present manufacturing technologies ranging from SiC fibers to SiC·SiC ceramic matrix composite parts, while Korea Aerospace University Nam Yeong-u (Prof.) will announce composite material technologies applicable to the discharge wall of Hall thrusters in ultra-low orbit environments.

The final presentation will be delivered by KIST Kim Dae-yun (Dr.). The presenter will introduce a technology that integrates different types of nanotube fibers into a single unit to enhance the radiation shielding performance of spacesuits for deep space exploration. This next-generation spacesuit material technology aims to support human exploration of deep space beyond the Moon, including Mars.

The KIST Jeonbuk Composite Materials Technology Research Institute, where the event is being held, serves as a major hub for advanced composite materials research in Korea. Established in Wanju, Jeonbuk in 2008, the institute conducts research on advanced composite materials such as carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes (CNT), and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT), while developing application technologies for the aerospace, defense, mobility, and energy sectors. Through industry-academia-government collaboration with local universities and companies, the institute is also promoting technology transfer and workforce development, collaborating with 72 family companies.

In particular, since the 'Space Composite Materials Research Group' officially launched as KIST's seventh mission-focused research institute in January this year, it is rapidly expanding its research direction toward space. The goal is to develop key composite materials needed for extreme space environments, including structures for lunar and Mars exploration rovers, radiation shielding, and heat transfer and electrical conductivity materials.

Some space material technologies held by KIST's Jeonju branch have already entered the actual space environment verification stage. The neutron shielding material developed by the institute was attached to the solar panel structure of NASA's space station and underwent a six-month exposure test in the space environment.

The core project that KIST Jeonju Branch is advancing to the next stage is the construction of a "space environment simulation test infrastructure." Currently, domestic companies often have to utilize overseas facilities to comprehensively verify space materials under conditions close to actual space environments. KIST plans to solve this problem by building a test infrastructure capable of simultaneously implementing various space environment conditions, including radiation exposure, extreme low and high temperatures, micro-particle collisions, and the effects of reactive oxygen species. The target timeline is 2030.

Once this facility is established, it is expected to help domestic space startups address the chronic issue of securing "heritage" (space validation history). In the space industry, even the best materials or components face significant constraints in commercialization and overseas expansion if they lack a track record of operating in actual space environments. KIST's plan envisions that when government-funded research institutions assume the role of credible validation infrastructure, it can substantially reduce testing costs and time for startups and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises).

Choi Won-guk of KIST Jeon Buk-bun (Director) said, "Space materials do not end with research and development; it is essential to apply them to actual systems and verify them in the space environment, making collaboration between research institutions and private companies crucial." He added, "This KCCI will serve as a stage for expanding KIST Jeonbuk Branch's strategy by connecting with overseas research institutions and the domestic space industry ecosystem."

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