Samsung SDI Backs Korea’s Chemistry Olympiad Team

Samsung SDI Giheung business site (headquarters)  Samsung SDI will provide full support for South Korea’s delegation to the International Chemistry Olympiad as part of efforts to foster talent in basic science, a foundation of future science and technology. Samsung SDI signed a sponsorship agreement for the South Korean delegation to the International Chemistry Olympiad, or IChO, with the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity and the Korean Chemical Society on Oct. 22 at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam District, Seoul. Attendees at the signing ceremony included Kim Hoon-kyu, executive vice president and head of the People Team at Samsung SDI, Chung Woo-sung, chairman of the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, and Geum Gyo-chang, president of the Korean Chemical Society. Under the agreement, Samsung SDI will officially support the entire process from education and selection of the South Korean delegation, operated by the Korean Chemical Society, to participation in the competition, starting in January next year. In particular, the company plans to provide separate scholarships to prize winners who achieve results in the competition to encourage their academic studies and research activities. Behind Samsung SDI’s decision to provide the sponsorship is its intention to help talented students in basic science take on the global stage and strengthen the nation’s science and technology competitiveness. The move reflects the company’s view that nurturing next-generation talent is part of its corporate social responsibility and its effort to put in place practical support measures. The International Chemistry Olympiad is a prestigious international competition in which high school students from around the world gather each year to compete in chemistry. South Korea has sent a delegation since the 24th competition, held in Pennsylvania in the United States in 1992, and has recorded excellent results every year. The 59th competition next year is scheduled to be held in Taipei, Taiwan, from July 19 to 28, and advance registration will begin in March next year. A Samsung SDI official said, "We are continuing various efforts to foster talent in science and engineering, including research support and educational sponsorship," adding, "We will continue to contribute to creating the conditions in which future science and technology talent can grow." Meanwhile, support for basic science at the broader Samsung group level is also drawing attention. Samsung Electronics currently sponsors South Korea’s delegations to the International Mathematical Olympiad and the International Physics Olympiad, while Samsung Biologics and Samsung Bioepis each support the South Korean delegation to the International Biology Olympiad, helping foster talent across fields.