Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) is advancing commercialization of its technology that repurposes discarded coffee grounds into a biodegradable insulation material through technology transfer.

JBNU Industry-University Cooperation (Son Jeong-min, Vice-President of Industry-University Cooperation) signed a Technology Transfer agreement worth 100 million won with Bugyeong Hitech (CEO Jeong Jong-gyun) on November 24 at 4:00 PM. The signing ceremony was attended by Son Jeong-min, Vice-President of Industry-University Cooperation at JBNU; Jeong Jong-gyun, CEO of Bugyeong Hitech; and the technology’s developer, Professor Kim Seong-ryun (Graduate School, Dept.of Carbon Composites Convergence Materials Engineering), who reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation.

This agreement is significant for integrating the core technology of a carbonized coffee-ground–based biodegradable insulation material into the development of lightweight automotive insulation components. As electric and eco-friendly vehicle markets expand and demand for lightweight, high‑insulation materials surges, the technology has attracted industrial attention.

Professor Kim Seong-ryun’s team has developed a porous carbon-based insulation material technology using waste biomass. The team holds key enabling technologies, including low thermal conductivity at approximately 0.04 W/m·K, a manufacturing process based on eco-friendly solvents, and porous filler composite technology. The technology is regarded as highly promising for commercialization across diverse fields such as construction, mobility, and battery module insulation, and related patents are being continuously expanded.

The technology recipient, Bugyeong Hitech, is an automotive parts manufacturer established in 2022 in the Gunsan National Industrial Complex, Jeonbuk. In response to growing electric vehicle adoption and tightening ESG regulations, securing bio-based new materials has become a major task. Based on this technology, the company plans to pursue development of next-generation products such as functional insulation components for electric vehicles, lightweight insulating interior materials, and thermally stabilized materials for vehicle bodies.

The two institutions will use this Technology Transfer agreement as a basis to proceed stepwise with: demonstration of insulation structure and performance; joint development of lightweight insulation components; and formulation of a global market entry strategy.

Professor Kim Seong-ryun, who developed the technology, said, 'This is a meaningful case of a bio-based insulation material being applied in earnest to the automotive industry,' and added, 'We will expand the application scope of the eco-friendly insulation technology through collaboration with various industrial sectors.' In particular, PhD candidate Kim Seong-jin (Dept.of Carbon Composites Convergence Materials Engineering), who holds a 20% share of the patent rights for the technology, said, 'As a student, I feel pride and joy that a technology I helped develop has led to a large-scale technology transfer and contributes to industrial advancement,' and added, 'I will dedicate myself further to research to become a talent who will lead Korea's industry.'

Jeong Jong-gyun, CEO of Bugyeong Hitech, stated, 'The combination of JBNU's unique insulation technology and our manufacturing capabilities will create new technological competitiveness,' and added, 'We will lead the development of next‑generation parts that meet the lightweight, eco-friendly, and high‑insulation performance demanded in the electric vehicle era.'

Son Jeong-min, Vice-President of Industry-University Cooperation, said, 'This technology transfer is a representative industry–university cooperation model in which JBNU's research outcomes connect to new business opportunities for local companies,' and added, 'We will actively pursue technology discovery and technology transfer to enhance the future competitiveness of the regional industry.'

Meanwhile, this Technology Transfer was generated through outcomes from the 'K-Carbon Flagship Technology Development Project' (RS-2024-00420431) supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute for Industrial Technology Planning and Evaluation, as well as the project for development of a hydrogen storage platform technology for land-and-sea transport of offshore P2G green hydrogen and the pilot project for establishing an academic–industry–research cooperation platform (RS-2023-00304743).