Technology Transfer Agreement between Incheon National University and Huran Co., Ltd.

Incheon National University and Huran Co., Ltd. have signed a technology transfer agreement for the “Heat Stress Monitoring System and Its Operating Method,” accelerating the commercialization of smart safety and health technologies applicable to a wide range of outdoor environments, including construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, logistics, as well as leisure, medical care, and welfare facilities.

The Industry–Academic Cooperation Foundation of Incheon National University (Director Dong-gu Kang) announced that on November 26, it concluded an agreement to transfer a total of five technologies—four patents and one proprietary know-how related to the “Heat Stress Monitoring System and Its Operating Method,” developed by Professor Chung-wan Gu’s research team from the Department of Urban Architecture and Engineering—to Huran Co., Ltd. (CEO Choon-sang Kim) for KRW 100 million.

The technology is expected to contribute to proactive protection of worker safety by real-time detection and prediction of heat stress risks caused by external environmental factors such as heat waves, thereby helping to prevent heat-related illnesses and create safer, more comfortable working environments.

Notably, it is a core technology that integrates and analyzes multiple sensor data—including temperature, humidity, and heart rate—to precisely calculate the heat stress index actually experienced by the human body, and to provide risk alerts and automated control signals based on the results. Unlike conventional approaches limited to simple environmental (perceived temperature) measurements, this system quantitatively reflects real physiological heat responses by incorporating individual physical reactions and activity levels, representing a significant advancement.

Professor Gu’s research team applied AI-based data analytics to build a heat stress prediction and response system that adapts to changing indoor and outdoor environments. Through this system, workers can monitor heat stress levels in real time via wearable devices such as smartwatches, and, when necessary, automatically trigger alerts or control ventilation and cooling systems. The approach is expected to improve energy efficiency while ensuring safe and comfortable working conditions.

Through this technology transfer, Huran Co., Ltd. plans to strengthen its technological competitiveness in the smart safety and smart building sectors and to commercialize heat stress management solutions applicable across industrial sites and living spaces. The company also aims to create social value by preventing casualties in harsh working environments—such as construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and logistics—and by contributing to smart city development projects.

Director Dong-gu Kang of the Industry–Academic Cooperation Foundation stated, “This technology transfer is a representative case in which the University’s outstanding research outcomes make a tangible contribution to industrial safety and public health in the era of climate crisis,” adding, “We will continue to actively collaborate with innovative companies like Huran Co., Ltd. to secure domestic and global competitiveness in smart safety and health technologies.”