Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering

What Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering does

KRISO (Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering) is a South Korean government-funded research institute established in 1973 and operating under the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST). Its headquarters are in Daejeon, and it maintains six specialized regional R&D centers across South Korea — covering deep-sea engineering (Busan), autonomous ship demonstration (Ulsan), ocean plant industry support (Geoje), ocean energy (Gangwon), eco-friendly fuel propulsion (Mokpo), and wave power generation (Jeju) — plus a Europe Center in Oslo. The institute employs 251-500 staff including 406 registered researchers and focuses on four core research domains: advanced ship performance and eco-friendly future ship technology; future ocean plant and marine renewable energy systems; smart marine equipment, robotics, and ICT convergence; and smart maritime traffic and accident response systems.

KRISO's core deliverables combine large-scale R&D infrastructure (world's 2nd-largest cavitation tunnel, world's largest rectangular deep-sea engineering tank, world's largest high-speed supercavitation tunnel, and an internationally accredited high-pressure chamber) with flagship national programs including the 2026-2029 Autonomous Ship AI Data Platform (34.66 billion KRW, collecting ~100 standardized operational data types across 8 maritime sectors with 25 industry partners), a 9-institution deep-sea 3,500m core-coring and environmental monitoring unmanned system targeting 2030 deployment, and AI-based predictive maintenance and polar navigation systems for Arctic Route vessels. The portfolio includes 1,484 registered patents and 11,170+ academic publications, with active 2025 grants in floating offshore wind hydrogen production, direct air capture, wave energy devices, autonomous ship path generation, and seabed survey robots.

KRISO's business model is government-R&D funded with technology transfer to industry: primary revenue flows from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (plus regional co-funding), supplemented by licensing royalties, running royalties, and initial payments from technology transfer agreements that prioritize participating companies from government R&D projects. Distribution is achieved through direct industry engagement, international technology exchange programs (e.g., the 2026 Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center in Washington D.C., the 2026 trilateral conference with UK NPL and Lloyd's Register in London), academic-industry forums, technology transfer agreements, and a network of specialized small/medium shipyard engineering support programs. Customer segments span Korean shipbuilders (HD Korea Shipbuilding, HD Hyundai Samho, Korea Register), the ROK Navy, U.S. shipyards, international classification societies, and a 25-company autonomous ship consortium.

Name

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering

Legal name

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering

Website

https://kriso.re.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

KRISO is a South Korean government-funded research institute under KIOST, founded 1973 and based in Daejeon, that conducts R&D in ship performance, autonomous vessels, deep-sea robotics, marine renewable energy, and maritime safety for Korean shipbuilders, the ROK Navy, and international classification societies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine and Ship Engineering R&D Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Engineering Services (54133)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Production Design & Detailed Engineering (3D CAD, Drawings, BOM, Nesting) (IMAJAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Propulsion Integration, Commissioning & Testing (Factory/sea trials, alignment) (IMAJAHAM), Underwater Inspection, Maintenance & Repair (UWILD, Diving/ROV, In-water Cleaning) (IMAJAFAJ), Propulsion MRO, Spares & Field Service (Overhauls, retrofits, upgrades) (IMAJAHAN), Marine Cybersecurity & Networked OT Systems (IMAJAJAH), Marine Retrofit, Conversion & Life-Extension (Class/Regulatory Upgrades) (TLAKAKAK)

Keywords

• Ship engineering R&D
• Ocean engineering research
• Autonomous vessel technology
• Deep-sea robotics
• Marine renewable energy

Headquarters

HQ city

Daejeon

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government R&D Project Funding: KRISO operates as a government-funded research institute receiving project allocations from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (해양수산부) and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (산업통상자원부), as well as other government ministries. Projects include autonomous ship AI data platform (30 billion KRW over 4 years), Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center (6.6 billion won, 2026–2028), deep-sea coring unmanned system development (government R&D), and various other ship and ocean engineering research programs.
2. Regional Innovation Leading Company Projects: R&D project funding under the Regional Innovation Leading Company Fostering Project jointly supported by Busan Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, totaling KRW 3.6 billion for AI ship technology development.
3. Technology Transfer and Licensing: KRISO transfers developed technologies to industry through technology transfer agreements. Revenue is generated through fixed payment technology fees, running royalties based on sales revenue, and initial payments. Priority is given to participating companies for technology transfer.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KRISO is a government-funded research institute that develops and transfers ship and ocean engineering technologies through R&D projects, technology licensing, and fee-based test/evaluation services. Its core offerings include advanced research in autonomous vessel AI platforms, deep-sea unmanned systems (3,500m depth), eco-friendly propulsion, and marine renewable energy, supported by world-class test facilities such as the world's 2nd-largest cavitation tunnel and the world's largest rectangular deep-sea engineering tank. The institute also operates the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center, runs an institutional patent portfolio of 1,484+ technologies, and transfers developed technologies to industry under fixed-fee, royalty, and initial-payment licensing terms.

Product overview

KRISO (Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering) is a government-funded research institute operating under the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), focused on ships, offshore plants, and ocean engineering technology. KRISO functions as a platform research organization offering multiple distinct products, services, and specialized research facilities. Its core products include the Autonomous Ship AI Data Platform for collecting standardized operational data across eight maritime sectors, the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center providing bilateral R&D and workforce training, and the Deep-Sea Resource Exploration Unmanned System project targeting 3,500m-depth core sampling and environmental monitoring. Supporting its research mission, KRISO maintains an institutional portfolio of 1,484 patents, a ScholarWorks digital repository of over 11,160 academic publications, and world-class testing infrastructure including a large cavitation tunnel (world's second-largest), an ice tank for arctic navigation, a deep-sea engineering basin (world's largest square tank), and a high-pressure chamber (world's first internationally accredited for underwater pressure testing in 2014).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Autonomous Ship AI Data Platform (자율운항선박 AI 데이터플랫폼) Four-year government-funded initiative (2026-2029) led by KRISO to collect and standardize approximately 100 types of autonomous vessel operational data across eight core sectors for AI model training, providing an open industry resource for the Korean shipbuilding ecosystem.
• Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center (한-미 조선해양산업기술협력센터) Center established in Washington D.C. and operated by KRISO from 2026 to 2028 with a KRW 6.6 billion budget, supporting U.S. shipbuilding revitalization through joint R&D, technology exchange, and workforce training in partnership with the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association.
• Deep-Sea Resource Exploration Unmanned System (해양자원탐사 무인체계) Government R&D project led by KRISO to develop the world's first integrated deep-sea unmanned system combining a tracked ROV for 3,500m-depth core sampling with an AUV for environmental monitoring (turbidity, noise, light), supported by 3D visualization and integrated remote operation from surface vessels and land-based stations, targeting 2030 deployment.
• Technology Transfer and Licensing Services (기술이전) Formal technology transfer service under which KRISO licenses developed ship and ocean engineering technologies to Korean companies through technology transfer agreements using fixed payment technology fees, running royalties based on sales revenue, and initial payments, with priority given to participating companies from government R&D projects.
• Test and Evaluation Services (시험평가) Fee-based test and evaluation service using KRISO's world-class facilities (cavitation tunnel complex, ice tank, deep-sea engineering tank, wave power generation open-sea test site, high-pressure chamber) for ship performance, marine propulsor, ice, and underwater pressure equipment testing.
• Research Commission Services (연구의뢰) Commissioned research service through which external industry and government clients contract KRISO to conduct custom ship and ocean engineering R&D projects on a fee basis.
• Small-Medium Shipyard Design Engineering Technology Support (중소조선 설계엔지니어링 기술지원) Engineering support program for small and medium-sized Korean shipyards providing design engineering technology assistance, design specialization education, and S/W e-cloud resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ hours of open sea verification for wave and offshore wind-based hydrogen production system
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered moderate and core.

• RedOne Technology (레드원테크놀러지)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026RedOne Technology is one of 9 participating institutions in the 'Unmanned System Technology Development for Ocean Resource Exploration' project. KRISO serves as the lead institution for developing a 3,500m depth deep-sea coring and environmental monitoring integrated unmanned system by 2030.
• Handjin DNB (한진디엔비)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Handjin DNB participates as one of 9 institutions in the government R&D project for deep-sea unmanned systems, with KRISO as the lead institution.
• Seoul National UniversitymoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Seoul National University participates as one of 9 institutions in the deep-sea coring unmanned system development project (海洋자원탐사를 위한 무인체계 기술개발).
• Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026KAIST participates as one of 9 institutions in the deep-sea coring unmanned system development project, contributing to technology development targeting 3,500m depth deep-sea operations by 2030.
• Republic of Korea Navy and KIMSTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026KRISO co-hosted the '2026 Navy Intelligence Informatization Policy Development Seminar' with the Republic of Korea Navy and KIMST (Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology) on June 17, 2026, attended by approximately 900 military, industry, academia, and research participants.
• Korea Register (한국선급, KR)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026KRISO and Korea Register (KR) jointly operated the Autonomous Ship Technology Development Project integrated task force from 2020 to 2025, Phase 1, successfully securing core technologies and demonstration foundations for autonomous ships.
• HD Korea Shipbuilding & Oceanic Industries (HD한국조선해양)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026HD Korea Shipbuilding & Oceanic Industries signed an MOU with KRISO and HD Hyundai Samho for upper-counter-rotating electric propulsion system technology cooperation, aimed at strengthening technology competitiveness in electric propulsion systems.
• HD Hyundai Samho (HD현대삼호)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026HD Hyundai Samho signed an MOU with KRISO and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Oceanic Industries for upper-counter-rotating electric propulsion system technology cooperation.
• Pukyong National UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Pukyong National University's research team led by Professor Kim Donghyun was selected for two R&D projects under the Regional Innovation Leading Company Fostering Project (KRW 3.6 billion), with KRISO and local companies as partners. Projects focus on AI predictive maintenance and next-generation polar navigation technology.
• UK National Physical Laboratory (NPL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026KRISO collaborates with UK NPL (National Physical Laboratory) on autonomous ship technology exchange. NPL is the UK's national measurement standards institute leading MAAT (Maritime Autonomy Assurance Testbed) project for autonomous ship technology reliability verification. Joint 2026 autonomous ship technology exchange conference held in London, June 10–12, 2026.
• UK Lloyd's Register (LR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026KRISO collaborates with UK Lloyd's Register on autonomous ship technology. LR is a world-leading classification society providing expertise in ship safety and certification, actively participating in autonomous ship international regulations and standards development. Joint 2026 autonomous ship technology exchange conference held in London, June 10–12, 2026.
• Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2026KRISO serves as the lead institution for the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center (Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center), established in Washington D.C. by 2026, with Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association as a partner organization. The center aims to support U.S. shipbuilding revitalization through joint R&D, technology exchanges, and workforce training (budget: 6.6 billion won, 2026–2028).
• U.S. Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2026South Korea and the United States signed an MOU on the 'Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Initiative' at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington D.C. on May 8, 2026, establishing the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center to be led by KRISO.
• Canada Memorial UniversitymoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026KRISO signed an MOU with Canada Memorial University for joint research cooperation on core technologies for polar navigation ships, covering ice engineering, icebreaker development, autonomous navigation and other polar ship technologies, aiming to secure future market leadership in polar vessel technologies.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Korean Register (KR): Korean Register is South Korea's classification society and jointly operated the Autonomous Ship Technology Development integrated task force with KRISO from 2020 to 2025. It is a direct peer given overlapping Korean maritime authority, autonomous ship development, and standards-setting roles.
• MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands): MARIN is one of the world's leading independent maritime research institutes, operating world-class cavitation tunnels, model basins, and full-scale test facilities, and conducting ship hydrodynamics, propulsion, and ocean engineering R&D. It is a direct peer to KRISO given comparable institutional mandate, physical test infrastructure, and ship/ocean engineering focus.
• China Ship Scientific Research Center (CSSRC): CSSRC is China's national-level ship and ocean engineering research institute, operating major cavitation tunnels, model basins, and ocean engineering laboratories. A direct peer to KRISO given its parallel state-backed mandate, ship hydrodynamics research, and naval/defense shipbuilding R&D.
• NIES (National Institute for Environmental Studies) / JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology): JAMSTEC is Japan's primary national marine science and technology R&D agency, operating deep-sea ROVs and conducting ocean resource exploration. Comparable to KRISO in deep-sea unmanned systems, autonomous ocean observation, and national-mandate ocean engineering R&D.
• MARINTEK (Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute): Part of SINTEF, MARINTEK conducts applied research in marine technology including hydrodynamics, structural mechanics, and ocean engineering, and operates major towing tanks and laboratory facilities. Comparable to KRISO as a national research institute delivering applied ship and ocean R&D to industry partners.

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore: Bureau Veritas is a global classification society and TIC firm with active marine R&D in autonomous shipping, decarbonization, and offshore safety standards. A broad incumbent peer to KRISO given its global classification, standards, and ship verification work that overlaps with KRISO's autonomous ship and safety R&D mandate.
• Lloyd's Register: Lloyd's Register is a global classification society and maritime engineering consultancy with active R&D in autonomous ship safety assurance, MASS Code standards, and digital ship verification. Direct collaborative partner with KRISO on autonomous ship technology exchange, making it a peer with both competing and complementary roles.
• DNV (Det Norske Veritas): DNV is a global classification society and maritime advisory firm that operates significant R&D capacity, including the DNV Research Centre, focused on maritime safety, autonomous shipping, and decarbonization. It is a broad incumbent peer because it overlaps with KRISO on autonomous ship standards, classification, and safety verification work, but operates at vastly greater global commercial scale.

Others

• HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD Hyundai): HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering is a major Korean shipbuilder and KRISO's R&D partner through MOUs on upper-counter-rotating electric propulsion. Listed as an ecosystem peer because it is the principal Korean commercial licensee of KRISO's ship and ocean engineering R&D output, not a direct research competitor.

Emerging players

• BMT Group: BMT is a maritime engineering, design, and risk management consultancy with deep capabilities in ship design, naval architecture, and autonomous vessel development. A peer because its commercial ship and ocean engineering services overlap with KRISO's applied R&D and technology transfer mandate, though it operates as a private consultancy rather than a national institute.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering