K-water is leading the development of the national water industry by activating new technologies

K-water has taken the lead in activating the water industry and “New Excellent Technologies”(NET), of which the Technology Registration System is a representative example. SMEs that lack funding power have difficulty commercializing their excellent technologies. As such, K-water is leading the government’s efforts to activate new technologies by adopting and registering SMEs’ new patented technologies with high potential for application in the field.
This system has conducted 26 new technology registration screenings since its launching in 2009. As a result, as of February 2022, K-water registered a total of 404 new technologies and contributed to the application of new technologies to designs. For instance, an activated carbon absorption and filter system in which overheated steam regeneration process is included, results in reduction of operating expense, as its regeneration process is utilized and operated by superheated steam at a water treatment site where activated carbon’s absorption is used. Meanwhile, K-water has improved the screening system for specific manufacturing technologies* by giving priority to registered technologies, introducing a technical proposal contest procedure, and expanding the registered technologies. In this way, K-water supports the market of SMEs and contributes to promoting the national water industry.

*Specific Manufacturing Technologies: Technologies that cannot be replaced by other methods of quality certification information such as NET and patents.

K-water will actively support
various cooperative activities
from discovery to application
of innovative technologies for
mutual growth with SMEs.

K-water aims for win-win cooperation with SMEs

K-water has established the “technology transfer system” whereby K-water transfers its excellent technologies (intellectual property rights) to SMEs in order to promote the innovative growth of the water industry. K-water has transferred its excellent technologies - including its water pipe network diagnosis program (Dr. Pipe), water pipe network operation and management system, wireless remote supervisory control system and method, high sodium hypochlorite generation, and up-flow inclined-plate separating device with head-controlled flow rate distribution type - to SMEs for their business growth.
K-water also supports such companies with royalties and test beds to assist their product development. In addition, K-water strives to foster SMEs by promoting their technologies, providing them with business consulting, and supporting their entry into overseas markets.
Meanwhile, on February 16, 2022, K-water held “the workshop on win-win cooperation with governmental policies (carbon neutrality and ESG) and small and medium-sized businesses”, with the aim of pursuing mutual growth and drawing up cooperation plans with SMEs.
The workshop, which was held both online and offline, was participated in by the Ministry of Environment, Seoul City, the Korea Water and Wastewater Association (KWWA), and water-related SMEs. During the workshop, presentations were given on K-water’s Technology Registration System, Technology Transfer System, and “K-water 2050 Carbon Neutral Roadmap,” followed by a discussion of the plans for expanding SMEs’ participation in the programs, developing their technologies, and expanding their market.

※ The story was prepared in accordance with the COVID-19 safety rules.