Korean Papermaker HanGuk Jiji Digitalizes R&D Knowledge to Boost Innovation

Integrated paper manufacturer HanGuk Jiji (027970, CEO Kang Jun-seok) announced on the 18th that it will transform approximately 70 years of accumulated R&D and technical knowledge into digital knowledge assets to establish an AI-based foundation. The initiative is part of the Information Communications Industry Promotion Agency's '2026 AI Youth Entrepreneurship Enterprise Co-Growth Voucher Support Project.' This program provides vouchers for traditional industry companies like HanGuk Jiji to adopt AI solutions from youth startups, fostering co-growth between enterprises.

Through this project, HanGuk Jiji aims to establish an AI transformation foundation in R&D. The company plans to convert diverse, fragmented research and technical materials into digital data, enabling AI-powered search and analysis for systematic organization. This will allow researchers to quickly locate needed information and comprehensively review dispersed data across multiple documents. By building a structured digital knowledge asset system, the company expects to enhance accessibility and utilization of existing R&D outcomes and technical expertise, thereby strengthening R&D productivity and technological competitiveness.

Specifically, HanGuk Jiji aims to faster reflect customer product and technology requirements into R&D processes and improve its ability to develop products responsive to market changes. The company prioritizes protecting core technical information accumulated during R&D, managing data usage scope and access permissions strictly. In the future, it plans to focus on developing innovative market-leading products based on a next-generation R&D system that integrates AI technology with data-based knowledge assets, aiming to strengthen technological competitiveness in the future paper industry.

According to a HanGuk Jiji representative, 'This initiative is not just a one-time data conversion but will serve as a starting point for building an AI-based R&D system capable of continuously utilizing and expanding accumulated research knowledge.' The company further stated it aims to lead the AI transformation trend in the paper industry while establishing new standards for sustainable ESG management through innovation across the entire production process from R&D to manufacturing.