Chang In-hwa: “Technology itself must become a product”—POSCO stresses commercialization of software-based technologies

[Financial News] POSCO Group Chairman Chang In-hwa stressed the need to strengthen the technological competitiveness of the group’s core businesses, including steel, lithium and energy, while also commercializing software (SW)-based technologies. The message was that the group should go beyond improving productivity and product competitiveness in its existing businesses and expand its business scope by turning technology itself into a product.
POSCO Group said on the 11th that Chairman Chang stated at the 38th POSCO Group Tech Forum, held in Gwangyang for two days starting on the 10th, “Our technological capabilities are the driving force that increases the value of resources and turns it into tangible results.”
He went on to say, “We need to create new value and broaden our business scope through the commercialization of software-based technologies, where the technology itself becomes a product.”
Around 800 people attended the forum, including Chairman Chang, executives and employees of major business affiliates, and Latorre, chief operating officer (COO) of India’s JSW Steel. Participants discussed strategies for responding to the energy transition and plans to advance artificial intelligence transformation (AX), among other topics.
The event also featured the POSCO Technology Awards, which recognize achievements in technology development. A total of 14 technologies received awards this year, and the top prize was increased from 100 million won to 150 million won.
In the steel category, the grand prize went to the development team behind POSCO’s “PosMAC Super ultra-high corrosion-resistant coated steel product.” The steel is designed for use in environments prone to corrosion, such as offshore locations and highly saline soil, and can be used in renewable energy facilities, among other applications.
In the new growth category, the grand prize went to “Mass-Production Technology for Metalenses for Next-Generation Augmented Reality (AR) Devices,” jointly developed by the Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology (RIST) and POSTECH. A metalens is a lens that controls light using nanostructures formed on a flat surface, and can be used to make AR devices smaller and lighter.
At the newly established POSCO Group AX Awards this year, POSCO’s Pohang Quality Technology Department received the top award. It was recognized for improving the quality assessment method for slabs, a semi-finished steel product, by combining physical analysis with AI.
POSCO Group is pursuing a “Triple-core” strategy built around three pillars: steel, strategic resources and energy resources. At the forum, participants shared technology development achievements across the group’s businesses and discussed ways to apply AI at worksites and commercialize technologies.

[email protected] Kim Mi-hee Reporter