Hyundai Motor, SOAS team up for two research centers for Africa

[Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group]

Hyundai Motor Group and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) under the University of London will launch the Centre for Sustainable Structural Transformation (CSST) in February 2024, following the establishment of the Development Leadership Dialogue (DLD) Institute to facilitate collaboration between the Korean conglomerate and the university.

Hyundai Motor Group said on Friday it held the opening ceremony of the Development Leadership Dialogue (DLD) Institute at the university’s Brunei Gallery Theater on Wednesday (local time).

SOAS, one of the 17 colleges within the university, is celebrated for its extensive studies on developing regions, with a particular focus on Asia and Africa.

The DLD to be led by renowned professors from SOAS, including Professor Ha-Joon Chang, Professor Christopher Cramer, and Professor Jonathan Di John, will focus on Africa, which is set to become the largest market with a population of 1.7 billion in 2035.

The DLD Institute will serve as a vital forum for discourse among leaders from various sectors, including government, business, academia, and civil society, and will focusing on discussing policies and industrialization plans for developing countries, particularly those in Africa. This interdisciplinary approach will encompass regular discussions, workshops, and seminars, and the DLD’s goal is to create a collaborative platform for politicians, scholars, and business leaders to exchange ideas and foster a shared understanding of the roles played by different sectors in driving social and economic advancement in developing regions, with a primary focus on Africa.

The CSST will conduct research on four major issues, including energy transformation, mineral resources, reorganization of international supply chains, and construction of new infrastructure, to propose a plan for economic and social development based on sustainable structural transformation, with a focus on Africa, and a vision for the role of private companies, including Hyundai Motor Group, and governments in developing countries.

As part of the partnership, Hyundai Motor Group plans to utilize its advanced technologies and expertise in various fields, including hydrogen fuel cells, energy, mobility, and construction, to facilitate growth and development across African countries.

Based on the collaboration with DLD and CSST, Hyundai Motor Group will enhance its understanding of the African market and actively research ways to tap it.