South Korean shipbuilding company Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings (HHIH) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) opportunities of developing technology firms.

The duo has agreed to invest nearly KRW1tn ($900m) into a fund, which will be used in developing business relationships.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Under the agreement, the entities will jointly seek to acquire companies focused on the development of technologies that can improve upcoming vessels and the shipbuilding processes, including remote autonomous ships, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and hydrogen fuel cells.

Apart from the shipping sector, HHIH will also seek opportunities to expand into other sectors such as self-driving vehicle technology, digital healthcare and healthcare data solutions.

HHIH vice-president Chung Ki-sun said: “I hope the MoU would serve as the first step for HHI Holdings to realise the new businesses that it has been promoting so far.”

Currently, HHIH is in the process of receiving regulatory approval for its proposed acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Last week, HHIH’s sub-holding company Korea Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (KSOE) teamed up with Doosan Fuel Cell for the development of an eco-friendly fuel cell for vessels.

The two firms signed an MoU to work jointly on the development of a megawatt (MW)-class solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system.

KSOE will be responsible for the complete system control technology and fuel cell layout design.

Doosan Fuel Cell will focus on the system control technologies, as well as the design, production and stability analysis of the fuel cell system.

Ship Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Ship Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
From automated chartering invoices to EU ETS and CII management, Ankeri Solutions’ maritime SaaS platform has earned three Ship Technology Excellence Awards for 2025. See how Ankeri is helping shipowners and charterers boost efficiency, cut emissions, and collaborate better across complex global fleets.

Discover the Impact