Signs $1.34 Million Tech Transfer Deal with Germany's MR
Full-Scale Global Push for AI, Big Data-Based Diagnosis Solution (SEDA)
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has embarked on targeting the global market by transferring its artificial intelligence (AI) and big data-based power equipment preventive diagnosis technology overseas. It is evaluated as the largest contract ever based on a single technology transfer, demonstrating that domestic power operation technology has recognized competitiveness in the global market.
KEPCO announced on May 21 that it signed a technology transfer contract for its Substation Equipment Diagnostic Analysis (SEDA) solution with Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen (MR), a global power equipment company, in Berlin, Germany, on May 20, local time.
The scale of this contract is $1.34 million (approximately 2 billion won), which is the largest amount among KEPCO's single technology transfer cases.
SEDA is KEPCO's proprietary technology that utilizes Internet of Things (IoT) sensor data, big data, and AI technology to automatically judge and diagnose the condition of substation equipment in real time. KEPCO developed the technology based on approximately 2 million pieces of switchgear operation data and more than 30,000 pieces of field data.
MR plans to commercialize SEDA into an integrated solution named 'TESSA 2.0' by combining it with its own preventive diagnosis platform, 'TESSA.' Through this, KEPCO's technology is expected to make full-scale entry into global markets such as Europe and North America.
The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the joint development and commercialization of preventive diagnosis solutions in Regensburg, Germany, in September last year. Since then, they have conducted technology value evaluation and customized business model development through a total of 21 rounds of discussions.
KEPCO explained that this contract is meaningful beyond simple technology export, as a global company has officially recognized the competitiveness of domestic power operation know-how and data-driven AI diagnosis technology. In particular, unlike many companies that develop preventive diagnosis technology in a limited data environment, KEPCO's strength is that it enhanced technological reliability by accumulating large-scale performance data.
The two companies will also expand the scope of future cooperation. In response to increasing global demand, MR will preferentially supply voltage regulators (OLTC), a core component of transformers manufactured by MR, to KEPCO, and the companies plan to continue cooperation in fire response technology and eco-friendly equipment development fields.
Yeo Geun-taek, director general of the Transmission and Substation Operation Department at KEPCO, stated, “This technology transfer is highly significant in that KEPCO's preventive diagnosis technology has secured a core engine to make a full-scale entry into global markets, including Europe and North America.” Yeo added, “We will strengthen our global market competitiveness moving forward through domestic and international business expansion and customized business model development.”
