Heesung Catalysts has been honored with the 2026 IR52 Jang Young-shil Award, recognizing the company’s R&D capabilities and industrial achievements in the field of chemical catalysts.

The award ceremony was held on August 25, celebrating Heesung Catalysts’ continued efforts to translate catalyst research and development into meaningful industrial applications.

IR52 Jang Young-shil Award: Recognizing Excellence in Industrial Technology

The IR52 Jang Young-shil Award recognizes outstanding new technology products developed by companies and corporate research institutes, as well as organizations that demonstrate excellence in technological innovation.

Jointly organized by the Korea Industrial Technology Association (KOITA) and Maeil Business Newspaper, the award has been presented since 1991 with the aim of encouraging corporate R&D and recognizing the contributions of technology developers.

The name “IR” stands for Industrial Research, while “52” represents the selection of one outstanding product for each of the 52 weeks of the year. The award is named after Jang Young-shil, a renowned scientist and inventor of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty.

Among the products recognized each year, those demonstrating exceptional technological and commercial achievements and significant industry impact are further selected for the Presidential Award and Prime Minister’s Award.

Recognizing Heesung Catalysts’ R&D Achievements in Chemical Catalysts

Since its establishment in 1983, Heesung Catalysts has developed catalyst technologies across a wide range of fields, including automotive, environmental, chemical, and electrode catalysts.

The IR52 Jang Young-shil Award is particularly meaningful as it recognizes the technological and industrial value of the R&D capabilities Heesung Catalysts has built in the field of chemical catalysts.

In chemical processes, catalysts are essential materials that enable chemical reactions to take place more efficiently. Developing catalysts for real-world industrial applications requires comprehensive technological capabilities encompassing not only materials research, but also catalyst design, manufacturing, performance evaluation and validation, and an understanding of the processes in which catalysts are applied.

Building on decades of experience in catalyst R&D and manufacturing, Heesung Catalysts has continued to develop chemical catalyst technologies that address the needs of industrial applications.

This award recognizes the company’s comprehensive capabilities across the entire process, from research and development to manufacturing and industrial application.

Celebrating Our R&D Achievements at the Award Ceremony

Employees who contributed to the technology development attended the IR52 Jang Young-shil Award ceremony on August 25 to celebrate the achievement together.

Jinwoo Song, Head of R&D Center, and Hodong Kim, Principal Researcher, received the award on behalf of Heesung Catalysts. Dongkun Kang, Senior Researcher, and Dongki Lee, General Manager, also attended the ceremony and received certificates and medals.

Following the official ceremony and group photo session, attendees were invited to view the award-winning exhibits displayed at the venue.

Heesung Catalysts also participated in the exhibition, where Donggun Kang, Senior Researcher, introduced the key features and major R&D achievements behind the award-winning technology.

The exhibition provided an opportunity not only to share the achievement but also to introduce Heesung Catalysts’ R&D capabilities in chemical catalysts to industry professionals.

Advancing Catalyst Technology from R&D to Industrial Application

Creating value through catalyst technology requires more than research and development. It involves a comprehensive process encompassing performance validation, manufacturing, quality assurance, and successful application in real-world industrial environments.

The IR52 Jang Young-shil Award provides further recognition of the R&D and manufacturing capabilities that Heesung Catalysts has built throughout this process.

With this award as a new milestone, Heesung Catalysts will continue to strengthen its technological competitiveness in the field of chemical catalysts.

We will continue developing technologies that address the evolving needs of industry, translating our R&D achievements into tangible industrial value, and expanding the possibilities of catalyst technology.