Cooperation with the Korea Institute of Energy Research
President of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), Yi Chang-Keun (left) und Bernd Rech scientific director at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. © HZB / A. Anselmo
On Friday, 19 April 2024, the Scientific Director of Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Bernd Rech, and the President of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), Yi Chang-Keun, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Daejeon (South Korea).
The MOU between KIER and HZB formalises the existing collaboration between the two institutes. The broad scope enables them to build on their shared values and visions and to pursue joint research paths for the further development of renewable energy technologies.
Following the recently launched EU project SolMates (Scalable High-power Output and Low cost Made-to-measure Tandem Solar Modules Enabling Specialised PV Applications), which is coordinated by the University of Innsbruck, this MOU will pave the way for further projects.
Signing ceremony in Daejeon
The signing ceremony was a highlight of the Helmholtz Association's delegation trip to Southeast Asia (for more information, see article on the right) and took place at the KIER headquarters in Daejeon. Around 40 representatives from both institutions took part, including KIER President Yi Chang-Keun and the President of the Helmholtz Association Otmar D. Wiestler. KIER signed an MOU in the field of "green" energy with HZB and another with Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), whose director Pieter J. Jansens was present.
At the signing ceremony for the MOUs, KIER’s President Yi Chang-Keun, said, "International cooperation with leading technology countries is essential to secure global technological sovereignty in response to energy transition and climate change," and added, "starting with this agreement, we will utilize the KIER’s global cooperation network, which has been built up over many years to advance strategic international cooperation with global top research groups."
Memorandum of Understanding between KIER and HZB
Since December 2023 and over a period of three years, KIER and HZB will conduct joint research within the Horizon Europe programme in the field of tandem solar cells. They plan to strengthen technical collaboration in various areas, including green hydrogen energy production, next-generation secondary batteries and the production and characterisation of high-efficiency tandem solar cells.
In addition to technical cooperation in the fields of hydrogen, photovoltaics, batteries and clean energy, KIER, FZJ and HZB are also planning substantial collaborations such as the exchange of information and personnel as well as the organisation of scientific conferences and workshops. In this way, they aim to create a solid foundation for close international co-operation between Korea and Germany and build a partnership that will lead the energy market by ensuring scientific and technological competitiveness.
FK with press release from KIER
> Original press release from KIER (22.04.2024)
- Bernd Rech elected to the BR50 Board of DirectorsThe Scientific Director at Helmholt-Zentrum Berlin is the new face behind the "Natural Sciences" unit at Berlin Research 50 (BR50). Following the election in December 2025, the constituent meeting of the new BR50 Board of Directors took place on 22 January 2026.
Its members are Michael Hintermüller (Weierstrass Institute, WIAS), Noa K. Ha (German Centre for Integration and Migration Research, DeZIM), Volker Haucke (Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology, FMP), Uta Bielfeldt (German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin, DRFZ) and Bernd Rech (HZB).
- A record year for our living lab for building-integrated PVIn 2025, our solar facade in Berlin-Adlershof generated more electricity than in any of the previous four years of operation.
- HZB expert appointed chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Barcelona Research CentreProf. Dr. Susan Schorr has been appointed to the newly established Scientific Advisory Board of the Barcelona Research Centre in Multiscale Science and Engineering and elected as its chair.