Celebrating its 12th anniversary this year, UnU Inc. has secured a strong foothold in the R&D of IoT-based simulation software. This software is extensively used in the environmental industry, a success built upon continuous research and expertise since its inception. In the June issue of <Monthly People>, we highlight the distinct strategies and advantages that position UnU as a leader in the state-of-the-art, technology-driven future of intelligent environmental engineering software. We had the pleasure of speaking with Kwangtae You, CEO of UnU, about the company’s domestic and international business performance, and we delved into the technology that underscores its unique competitive edge. The unyielding commitment and genuine humility of entrepreneurs striving tirelessly for growth serve as a remarkable inspiration to us all.
“Innovation is Just Around the Corner”
Since its inception in 2009, UnU has consistently executed both domestic and international consulting projects for wastewater and water treatment plants, as well as projects focused on the development of scientific and technological software. Historically, domestic consulting and software development businesses were order-driven industries, heavily reliant on human resources. This model posed challenges to sustainable growth and the creation of high-value services. Notably, a significant portion of the professional software and advanced sensors used in the domestic water industry were dependent on foreign technology. Recognizing this, CEO Kwangtae You shifted the company’s focus towards developing proprietary technology aimed at delivering higher added value. As a testament to a decade of diligent research, UnU has made notable strides in reducing energy consumption at water treatment plants, enhancing operational efficiency, and successfully localizing simulations for anomaly detection, artificial intelligence software, and smart sensors.
“Among the achievements so far, the wastewater treatment process simulation software MassFlow3 and the Smart Sensor for water quality monitoring (UV-06) using optical technology (UV-06) have attracted attention as they were successfully commercialized for the first time in Korea. It is currently being introduced in the private and public sectors. Recently, we have successfully applied and signed contracts with Samsung Engineering, POSCO E&C, Pulmuone Foods, Seoul City, and Busan City projects. Although we achieved an operating profit of 22%, we are not satisfied with this and are currently continuously investing about 30% of total sales in research and development.”
According to CEO Kwangtae You, the source of corporate competitiveness was securing excellent human resources and continuous support for research and development. Representative examples include making commuting hours as autonomous as possible so that employees can focus on research and development, and providing incentives for performance.
“UnU’s unique strategy revolves around developing technologies that cater to market needs. To realize this, I believed that it was crucial to provide our team members with an optimal research environment and substantial compensation. This approach led to the vertical integration of technology and products. By commercializing sensors for data collection and software that delivers decision-making insights from this data, we have fortified our technological prowess and price competitiveness.”
UnU’s flagship software products include MassFlow, uWater, and DataFlow. These are simulation tools designed for the planning and optimization of wastewater treatment plantsand water destribution networks. Renowned entities like POSCO E&C, GS E&C, Dohwa Engineering, and various local governments consistently rely on these products. Moreover, this simulation software has been offered as a solution that seamlessly integrates with automation systems, controlling processes and aiding in decision-making..
“Recently, we developed a Smart Sensor that measures organic substances, nitrogen, and phosphorus in water in real time using optical technology. This innovation finds its applications in wastewater and water treatment plants, industrial wastewater facilities, and the food industry. Our products and solutions have garnered significant attention for two main reasons: they slash the blowing energy of wastewater treatment plants by over 20% and facilitate real-time water quality monitoring at a fraction of the cost — less than 1/5 the price and with 1/10 the maintenance expense of traditional analyzers.”
The intersection of the environmental and ICT sectors promises a future filled with innovations and advancements. Recently, UnU’s pioneering efforts in this space were acknowledged when it was chosen as one of the top 20 R&D achievements at the 2020 Environmental Technology Fair. This recognition underscores the company’s exceptional technological prowess. Curious about their forward-looking vision and the secrets behind their technological success, we reached out for an in-depth conversation.
“The technology selected for excellence relates to the development of a water pipe network hydraulic analysis simulator (uWater). The commercialization of simulators for hydraulic analysis of water pipe networks began about 20 years ago, and was successfully commercialized as a result of joint research with Korea University and Seoul National University of Science and Technology. “The mathematical analysis model applied to the developed simulator has been recognized as the world’s best, and I believe it was selected as an excellent achievement because the efforts of the past 20 years have culminated in a product.”
It can be predicted that in the future, only countries with a well-established technological system for the environmental industry will become powerful countries that will survive in global industrial competition. The Republic of Korea also needs to understand the current situation and take preemptive response measures to improve national competitiveness in the environmental industry technology field. In particular, through the national water management unification project, we sought CEO Kwangtae You‘s opinion on the extent to which Korea’s integrated water management technology infrastructure in the smart ICT field is currently established and what needs to be further improved to secure global competitiveness in the future.
“The domestic information and communication infrastructure is world-class, and the speed of big data construction is also progressing rapidly. However, in the case of the domestic water industry, data collection and disclosure are limited due to its public nature. More support is needed for the collection and disclosure of public information built using the national budget and for its efficient use. In particular, advanced sensors for big data collection rely on foreign technology, so support and development of advanced optical sensors are needed.”
Currently, Korea is preparing for a new leap forward to promote innovation and development in the environmental industry, including establishing a new industrial system through digital transformation in all defense industries based on technologies based on the 4th Industrial Revolution. In addition, due to the nature of ‘water’, which is the use of limited resources, the importance of smart technology-based water data management and measurement is expected to increase in future new industries based on information and communication. So what are the promising innovative technologies that will attract attention in the future? Furthermore, we discussed what we thought about the prospects for the smart integrated water management field.
“Global statistics and data consistently point to the continuous growth of the smart integrated water management industry. Notably, the domestic water sector, already well-established in water supply and sewerage provisions, is experiencing a paradigm shift: from infrastructure construction to operational management. This evolution suggests even greater potential for the smart water management market. As we gaze into the future, technologies such as artificial intelligence and optimization techniques specific to the environmental sector stand out, especially those centered around operational efficiency and optical sensors. I believe that the software and precision engineering required to bring these technologies to market hold immense promise.”
“A Unified Vision for a Transparent Water Industry”
CEO Kwangtae You stands at the forefront of technological advancements, having pioneered innovative research in smart environmental engineering. But what fuels the passion and drive of CEO Yoo? What are the beliefs and philosophies that have anchored him through the challenges of leading a company and spearheading relentless research and development? We delved into these questions to understand the man behind the vision.
“I believe that excellent technology is possible through years of accumulated technology. Many of the technologies we know have been developed over decades. The world’s best simulation software has been developed for over 30 years. We also had difficulties with manpower and funds, but I think it was possible because we did not give up. The continuous R&D support from the Ministry of Environment was of great help to us, and the driving force in the technical aspect was the source technology in the fields of mathematics and chemistry. Maybe that’s why the most memorable moment was when I earned my doctorate in 2000. After starting a business, I started a doctoral course and got it in 7 years. In particular, while conducting simulation research, the need for sensor development was reduced, and this became the motivation for developing a smart sensor. In my life, if it is a guideline for business operation and a firm philosophy, it is ‘trying to provide the technology and products that customers need.’”
CEO Yoo has spent his time humbly and sincerely. He generously added opinions on what policy systems should be prepared to foster the next-generation high-tech environmental industry and build infrastructure in the future.
“The cutting-edge water industry related to water treatment process energy reduction and operation optimization is a recently growing industry, and due to the nature of the water industry, the speed of introduction of new technologies is not fast. In order to improve this, a legal system for active introduction of software and advanced sensors in the water industry is urgently needed. “When operating costs are reduced and efficiency is improved by applying cutting-edge technology, incentives will be provided to relevant organizations and personnel, which will provide an opportunity for the active introduction of new technology and contribute to revitalizing the industry.”
I hope our future is transparent
UnU promotes technological coexistence for the scale-up of companies leading the future of domestic environmental engineering IT technology development and creates new growth engines. Today, when we need to imagine a sustainable future in detail such as carbon neutrality and eco-friendly green technology, what does CEO Kwangtae You think the company’s tomorrow will look like?
“UnU’s future is to continuously develop products and solutions related to the water industry. Our short-term goal is to secure global competitiveness based on the developed solutions. In the mid- to long-term, the plan is to advance from the water and sewage business to the process optimization and monitoring industry in the semiconductor ultrapure water, bio industry, and medical fields. To this end, my dream is to develop UnU so that we can work with excellent talents in the fields of mathematics, chemistry, and the environment not only domestically but also around the world.”
Lastly, Representative Yoo emphasized that the future of Korea’s environmental industry should be driven by protecting the environmental ecosystem, which is a future resource. “The potential that Korea possesses lies in its excellent human resources. This makes us competitive compared to any other country in the world. “If the government and companies join forces to provide a good environment for talented people and make continuous efforts, I expect that the future of Korea’s environmental industry will be bright.”
As long as UnU is with us on that path, we deeply hope that the direction of our country’s water industry R&D policy will be more clearly established in the future.
Reporter Park So-yeon psy@monthlypeople.com
[Source] Monthly People