EcoPro, a South Korean battery materials holding company, announced Sunday that it recognized two young professors for their outstanding energy and environmental science research at its annual awards ceremony.

The company’s second Ecopro Young Scientist Awards, held Wednesday, honored Professor Lee Hong-kyung of Yonsei University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the energy category and Professor Sim Kyo-seung of UNIST’s Department of Chemistry in the environment category. Each received a trophy and a 20 million won ($13,800) cash prize, the company said.

Established in 2022, the EYSA seeks to encourage innovative research addressing critical challenges in energy and environmental sustainability, according to EcoPro. This year, 32 candidates applied for the award, with winners selected based on their academic achievements, such as publications, patents and contributions to technological advancements.

Professor Lee was recognized for his work on next-generation battery materials and lithium metal anode technologies, which EcoPro said are essential for advancing sustainable energy solutions. Professor Sim’s research on fully recyclable wearable devices, published in the journal Nature Electronics, earned him recognition in the environment category.

“We hope the EYSA will foster industry-academia collaboration, contributing to the advancement of eco-friendly technologies and improving humanity’s quality of life,” EcoPro CEO Song Ho-jun said.

The company added that it hosted its 9th Annual Innovation Competition during the award ceremony to showcase employee-led initiatives for reducing costs and improving efficiency as part of its broader commitment to innovation.



By Park Li-na (linapark@heraldcorp.com)