The Global Desalination Research Center (GDRC; Director In Soo Kim) of GIST (President Young Joon Kim) has been officially designated a global R&D hub by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT; Minister Suh Seoung-hwan).

                                        GDRC Opening Ceremony held in April, 2014

As a national control tower of R&D in the field of seawater desalination, the GDRC plans to develop world-class source technologies and establish a sustainable research base. In the first phase through 2020, the center will open a new international agency for water quality analysis and certification, raise the national desalination R&D competence by coordinating various domestic projects, and promote active international exchanges and cooperation in the field.

The GDRC opened in April 2014 to follow up on the seawater desalination plant project in which a total of 180 billion won was invested over seven years. GIST has been operating the GDRC on its campus to lead the research, development, and industrial application in seawater desalination.

Director In Soo Kim of GDRC said, “As a leading institution in desalination R&D, the GDRC will take the initiative in consolidating the nation’s research competence in the field.” “We will also continue to build and expand international networks and function as the technological hub to reach out to international markets,” he added.