• Award recipients expanded to two Grand Prize teams and one Excellence Award team 
• "We will continue fostering new research and projects centered on our employees"
   

SK chemicals (President & CEO Ahn Jae-hyun) announced on the 17th that it held the 8th annual Researcher of the Year Award ceremony at ECOLAB in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, presenting Grand Prizes to projects that contributed to enhancing the competitiveness of the company’s core products.

Since 2018, SK chemicals has been selecting Researcher of the Year Award recipients by evaluating research and development projects across five criteria: creativity, difficulty level, technological value, completeness, and passion, distinct from the existing "SUPEX Pursuit Award."

Unlike previous years in which the award was given to a single project to one individual, this year’s ceremony expanded its scope by presenting Grand Prizes to two teams (a total of four recipients) and an Excellence Award to one team.

The Grand Prizes for this year’s Researcher of the Year Award was presented to two projects: process development for functional materials SKYPEL and SKYBON leading to improved profitability, and property enhancement of ECOZEN Pro for expanded applications.

SKYPEL and SKYBON are functional materials based on polyester. SKYPEL is a material with rubber-like elasticity and excellent heat resistance, commonly used in wire tubing and automotive parts. SKYBON features outstanding chemical resistance and flexibility, making it ideal as a raw material for adhesives and coatings.

Project leaders Yoo Young-man (PL) and Park Jun-yong (Manager) from the Functional Materials Research Lab applied creative and innovative concepts to develop new polymerization processes, maintaining the physical properties of both materials while significantly reducing costs. The company explained that the cost competitiveness secured through this innovation has opened the door to market and application expansion.

Managers Moon Jeong-mi and Oh Hyun-woo from the Green Materials Research Lab, who led the ECOZEN Pro project and also received the Grand Prize, succeeded in simultaneously enhancing both strength and transparency of the material. By overcoming the common trade-off between transparency and strength, the project enhanced the competitiveness in applications that demand both properties at a high level, such as reusable cups, airtight containers, and blenders.

The Excellence Award was presented to Manager Kim Sang-woo from the Green Materials Research Lab for developing shrink film based on accumulated technological expertise.

Based on the principle that "where there is performance, there are awards," SK chemicals will continue fostering new research and projects centered on employees through creative and voluntary project execution across the organization, by researchers and other staff members.

Ahn Jae-hyun, President of SK chemicals, stated, "Each technical challenge our researchers address and every innovative solution they develop represents a valuable asset that strengthens SK chemicals’ core competitiveness—our technology." He added, "We will continue to make sustained efforts to empower our researchers to immerse themselves in identifying problems and solutions, ultimately linking their work to the growth of both the company and our employees."

[Photo Description: SK chemicals held the 8th Researcher of the Year Award ceremony at ECOLAB in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. (From left) Grand Prize recipients: Functional Materials Research Lab Manager Park Jun-yong and PL Yoo Young-man, Green Materials Research Lab Managers Moon Jeong-mi and Oh Hyun-woo, and Excellence Award recipient Green Materials Research Lab Manager Kim Sang-woo pose for a commemorative photo after the ceremony.]