SK On announced on May 28th that it is intensifying its efforts to nurture the next generation of battery industry professionals through extended collaboration with Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST). The two institutions will prolong their joint operation of the specialized battery education program, ‘e-SKB Program’ (Education Program for SK Battery), and enhance overall management, including expanding target departments and courses.
The agreement was signed during a ceremony held at UNIST headquarters on May 27th, attended by UNIST Vice President Ahn Hyun-sil, SK On R&D Head Park Ki-soo, Senior Process Development Director Lee Seung-no, and Industry-Academia Cooperation Director Kim Young-sik. They agreed to extend and broaden the operation of the e-SKB program.
Launched in March 2022, the e-SKB program is a joint initiative by SK On and UNIST, aimed at cultivating specialized battery talent. Participants in the program receive tuition support and research scholarships, and upon graduation, are offered employment opportunities at SK On.
Initially, the program was open only to master’s students in energy chemical engineering. However, through this new agreement, participation has been expanded to include students from mechanical engineering and electrical-electronic engineering, allowing both master’s and doctoral candidates to join. Additionally, the application process, previously limited to initial admission, is now open to ongoing students, offering more flexible participation.
Strengthening Faculty Support to Boost R&D Capabilities
Beyond expanding the program, SK On and UNIST will enhance support for faculty research activities and thesis supervision, aiming to improve the quality of battery research and broaden the foundation for securing top talent.
Park Ki-soo, Head of SK On’s R&D division, stated, “Talent is the core of the future battery market. SK On will continue to strengthen industry-academic cooperation to secure technological leadership.”
UNIST Vice President Ahn Hyun-sil also remarked, “Our collaboration goes beyond simple education—it’s about creating a new talent development model. We will focus on cultivating comprehensive battery industry professionals.”
Following the agreement, Park Ki-soo held a special lecture for UNIST students, sharing SK On’s battery technology development strategies and future vision. In front of approximately 80 students and faculty members, he emphasized the rapidly evolving nature of the battery industry and the importance of R&D personnel capable of responding to diverse customer demands.
He further highlighted, “The battery industry requires a broad range of skills, including materials development, design, manufacturing processes, analysis, and simulation. SK On will continue to innovate across all these areas to maintain competitiveness.”
Meanwhile, SK On is proactively recruiting technological talent through various channels, including visiting major universities nationwide, delivering special lectures by executives, and expanding the hiring of industry-academia scholarship students. The company currently collaborates with KAIST, Sungkyunkwan University, Hanyang University, and others, establishing a solid industry-academia-based battery professional training system.
