Haedong Idea Factory at the College of Engineering

On March 17, 2016, Seoul National University’s College of Engineering launched the ‘Haedong Idea Factory’ – a 24-hour creative space where students can share their ideas and actualize them into products.

A similar concept can be found in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s ‘Fab Lab,’ Silicon Valley’s ‘Tech Shop,’ and Harvard University’s ‘D.School’.

This project was initially proposed early last year by LEE Ji Sun (graduate of Department of Materials Science and Engineering), who was motivated by the Sewol Ferry accident to create a disaster prevention system using IT (Information Technology) analysis. When she faced limitations in finding space and a team to help to carry out her ideas, she made a proposal for the idea-sharing space, which was eventually approved by the Dean of the College of Engineering, LEE Kun Woo, and also financially supported by KIM Jung Sik, Chairman of the Haedong Science Foundation.

After taking a mandatory safety education course and technical equipment training, students are permitted to use the provided equipment, including 3-D printers, 3-D scanners, laser cutters, and instruments for cutting metal and wood, at any time.

Furthermore, once professors and personnel who are exclusively responsible for the ‘Haedong Idea Factory’ are appointed, the College of Engineering plans to initiate trainings and workshops such as those for patent strategy and design - which are necessary for the commercialization of the innovations that would potentially emerge from the factory.

Lee Ji Sun hopes that with the sufficient human resources and physical infrastructure, ‘Haedong Idea Factory’ will be a fruitful project with ideas being initiated and shared by students.

The ‘Haedong Idea Factory’ is located in the College of Engineering, Building 39, Floor B2.

Written by Hye Bin Lee, SNU English Editor, hahahybes@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr