-Displaying daily supplies, convergent with design ability and liberal arts knowledge

KIU Idea Factory Group and KAIST Social Technology Innovation Institute held a ‘3 Days Workshop’ from January, 25th to 27th at KAIST, Korea Advaned Institute of Science and Technology, located in Daejeon. The subject of workshop was ‘Arduino’, the technology available to produce products which are interactive with the environment.

This workshop was organized to discover creative ideas and industrialize them, based on convergent thinking between the university and studies. Groups consisting of 21 KIU undergraduate students and 8 researchers of KAIST Social Technology Innovation Institute demonstrated a variety of innovative products.

The workshop began with a lecture which was about the basic principle of ‘Arduino’ and its application. Discovering ideas, manufacturing mockup which means a full sized model, presentations and discussions for their industrializations were followed.

Fully mobilizing their ability to design and technology, and making use of their liberal arts knowledge, the participants who have a variety of majors presented many creative products convergent with their emotion and technology. Some works, actively utilizing ‘Arduino’ which was subject of the workshop, drew attention. Light fixture blown out by breathing, a flash, which is interlocked with a mobile phone, automatically adjusting camera intensity of illumination, furniture sensing the floor noise and expressing it with movements of lights and colors, indoor lights sensing weather and expressing it by diverse colors, and children chopsticks drawing interest with lights were representative examples.

Kang Hyung-gu, the head of Idea Factory Group and the professor of KIU design department, who organized the workshop stated, “By continually collaborating with domestic and over-seas universities and industries, we will develop various business models which make students’ creativity realized”. He added, “A flash which is interlocked with a mobile phone and furniture sensing the floor noise are facing a supplier selection for the industrialization. Both were introduced at this workshop”.

Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy has selected 10 universities throughout the country which are in charge of ‘Idea Factory Business’. ‘Idea Factory Business’ is to industrialize the university students’ ideas for start-ups with the help of consulting experts at a government funded research center. This business supports students to make their ideas the manufactured prototype, making use of that technology for small and medium sized companies or students’ start-ups.

KIU was solely selected for ‘Idea Factory Business’ among universities located in Daegu and Kyungbuk last year. Supported for 3 years (2015-2018), 3 hundred million won each year, KIU has conducted business for the first business step.

To operate ‘Idea Factory’, KIU has comprehensively had equipment, human resources, and education program. It makes students who are full of ideas and enthusiasm easily access and use manufacturing equipment. Furthermore, by commercializing students’ ideas, KIU fully supports students to develop their ideas and exercise their rights.