LG Electronics is planning to operate Sensor Research Institute in 2016. This institute will develop sensors without discriminating any business sectors such as home appliances (HA), vehicle components (VC) and others. It is expected that South Korea’s sensor R&D industry, which could not avoid being meaningless and unimportant, will secure sizeable competitiveness.

According to industries on the 31st, LG Electronics is going to operate sensor research institute, which was promoted after being separated from Material Research Institute, on full-scale in 2016. It was promoted to a research institute as a role of a sensor has become bigger in major business sectors such as HA, VC, and others and it will be managed by Lee Jae-duk, who is a top researcher that used to work as the team leader of sensor team.

This institute will work on many R&D projects in 2016. It is heard that not only is it going to work on home appliances that LG Electronics has been focusing on, but it will also work on developments projects for sensors for vehicles. Vehicle components business is a new business that has emerged as a new profitable business for LG Electronics.

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<PM 1.0 Sensor that was installed inside of LG Electronics’ air purifier called PuriCare. It is not related to Sensor Research Institute’s development project.>

VC Business Headquarters, which was established in July of 2013, is going to develop and deliver vehicle infotainment system, cameras for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) and others. It was established 2 years earlier than Samsung Electronics’ Electronic Equipment Business Department.

Sensor Research Institute is not going to discriminate on businesses, but it is going to develop sensors for every departments and sectors in the company. This is because importance of sensors has become bigger in major business sectors. Research in sensors is also very active in business departments.

LG Electronics installed PM 2.5 ultra-fine particle filter into a previous model of air purifier. Stand-type air conditioners have been maintaining more than 80% of PM 2.5 countermeasure model since last year. As LG Electronics is recently releasing new air purifier product called PuriCare, it also chose PM 1.0 extreme ultra-fine particle sensor.

This kind of LG Electronics’ move is meaningful in a sense that a huge corporation is taking initiative in developing sensors. Until now, South Korea’s sensor R&D industry has been controlled by small and mid-sized businesses and 2nd-tier suppliers and this is why it could not avoid being meaningless and unimportant. However as LG Electronics is focusing its capabilities into developing sensors, this will expand its cooperation with current sensor and parts industries.

“Sensor Research Institute was separated from current Material Research Institute and is currently under CTO after being promoted.” said a person related to LG Electronics. “Although there will be instances where sensors will be installed in individual products, most of sensor R&D will be performed by this institute.” This person also added that any detailed information regarding R&D projects that are carried out by Sensor Research Institute cannot be confirmed.

Staff Reporter Song, Junyoung | songjy@etnews.com