Air Purification System of Corning-SNS Wins Seoul Global Challenge

Corning-SNS was the overall winner of the Seoul Global Challenge

Corning-SNS was the overall winner of the Seoul Global Challenge, proving the outstanding particulate matter reduction effect of its air purification system in the subway platform of Seoul through the installation of the ceramic honeycomb filter on the vent opening. On February 6 (Thurs.) at 11 a.m. in Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul held the award ceremony of the Seoul Global Challenge 2019-2020, a globally competitive R&D in which global innovators, regardless of their nationalities, participate to seek innovative solutions for urban problems Seoul is facing through competition. In consideration of the attendants’ safety in terms of the spread of novel coronavirus, the ceremony was held simply with the participation of winners and related figures, with heat detectors, hand sanitizers, and masks in place. The task of the 1st Seoul Global Challenge this year was “to find solutions for the reduction of particulate matter in the subway in Seoul.” Companies and research institutions from around the world, including the United States, France, and Japan, as well as South Korea, took part in the competition. 106 products and technologies competed against one another in the three fields of tunnel, platform, and train. Three teams with the best technologies were finally selected through multidirectional evaluations. The evaluation committee made up of experts in related fields and the Seoul Global Challenge Organizing Committee made comprehensive assessments, considering the results of on-site inspections and citizen evaluations, as well as innovativeness. The three winners will receive the Mayor of Seoul Award and a total of KRW 600 million in prize money (KRW 500 million for the overall winner), and Seoul Metro will pursue a preferential purchase of their products to incorporate into measures for particulate matter reduction in the subway of Seoul. Additionally, the city will establish and operate exhibition halls in areas like Seoul Plaza to promote the products of 10 companies that made it to the finals of the challenge. The Seoul Global Challenge 2020-2021 will be inviting new ideas, not depending on the existing technologies, for the reduction of particulate matter in the subway in Seoul and supporting the development of prototypes. Applicants can apply for the challenge in April at the web page of the technical proposal (www.seoul-tech.com/seoulglobalchallenge).