USIS, which is preparing to leap forward based on its own special purpose drones, self-driving systems, and Internet of Things platforms with good scalability, is a smart small and medium-sized company that has the upper hand not only in collaboration with leading conglomerates but also in competition with companies in the metropolitan area.

 

 

Lee Il-woo, CEO of USIS, who has settled in Ulsan Techno Industrial Complex, called "Silicon Valley in Ulsan," and has been evolving by expanding his spectrum.

 

 

If the CEO is considering relocating to a special regulatory zone, pay attention to his success strategy.

 

 

 

 

Look at the laboratory of innovation, the special zone of freedom of regulation.

Innovation is a dictionary meaning of "introducing a new method that has never been achieved" and "changing or fixing old things to make them very new." However, innovative technologies or new industries have to go through a myriad of difficulties before they enter the market.

Among them, regulations that are unnecessary and unreasonable are one of the biggest challenges of innovation. In 2019, the government introduced a special regulatory freedom zone that will lift lump regulations on new industries that will drive regional innovation growth and provide financial support. In the rapidly changing environment such as the 4th Industrial Revolution, 24 institutional devices have been designated for companies to freely develop and commercialize new technologies without restriction, and each city and provincial government is taking the lead in attracting companies and revitalizing investment.

"Ulsan is the only city in the country that has designated three special regulatory zones. This is a disprove that there are many opportunities for growth. Especially, Ulsan Techno Industrial Complex, where our company is located, was designated as a special zone for the first time in Ulsan. Not only is the industry-academic university well equipped with a collaborative environment, but also exchanges between different industries can provide a good opportunity for creating new business models. I am confident that it is Ulsan's Silicon Valley suitable for the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution."

Lee Il-woo, CEO of USIS, who started as a one-man company and was recognized by the president for his achievements based on cooperative networks between small and medium-sized companies, and the Ulsan Techno Industrial Complex Convergence Council, expressed unusual regional love. As CEO Lee explained, Ulsan Techno Industrial Complex houses three educational institutions, Ulsan National University of Science and Technology, Ulsan Science and Technology Institute, Ulsan City Research Complex, Small and Medium Business Research Center and Manufacturing Complex.

Currently, various technology development and demonstration are underway with the goal of creating an ecosystem for the high-value-added hydrogen industry by collaborating with tenant companies and related agencies. USIS is working with the Korea Energy Research Institute on research and development of hydrogen fuel cells for drones and optimization. CEO Lee is preparing for a spectacular emergency by expanding his spectrum through convergence with various fields. His past experience presents meaningful milestones for junior companies and CEOs who are going through tough times. 

 

 

 

<Knowledge power plant located on the second floor is a research center that develops software and creative power plant is a hardware lab.>

 

Put your thoughts into reality, build up your ability to scale up.

CEO Lee, who started with CF Information and Communication Ulsan in 2004, changed his mission to USIS in 2011, and is running toward a unicorn company that will lead the 4th industrial revolution like the name "Unicorn of Smart IoT System." After 15 years since its inception, it has moved into Ulsan Techno Industrial Complex to build a new office building and is fully prepared for a second leap forward.

The three-story building, which is shaped like a ship, is packed with factories dedicated to drones, knowledge power plants, creative power plants, and cafeterias for offices and employees. However, he had to suffer as much growing pains as he did in adolescence until he reached the current position that others envied.

 

 

 

"In the beginning, we focused on software, including CAD programs, which we use for shipbuilding and marine ship design. It was difficult to enter the market, but as Hyundai Heavy Industries was registered as a partner company, the big three Korean shipbuilders became major customers. Thanks to you, I was able to grow fast. But on the other hand, I was worried. Looking at the history of advanced countries, I thought I should prepare for the future."

CEO Lee started to build his own technology know-how by developing various software from establishing IT infrastructure to industrial applications. By continuously developing industrial equipment for library development and safety management for user convenience, the proportion of research is gradually increasing. As a result, it was selected as a global star venture company by Ulsan City in 2008, and in 2011, it also targeted overseas markets in China and Argentina with its own software. In 2014, annual sales surpassed 20 billion won, making it prominent internationally and internationally.

However, as the shipbuilding industry went downhill, the local economy collapsed, and the aftermath forced Usis to have a hard time. Although sales were cut in half, CEO Lee did not give up until the end. By participating in government support projects and developing industrial safety control systems using wireless networks, it increased the proportion of R&D. Everyone said it wouldn't be easy, but he endured with his unique tenacity. At this time, the area of interest became the foundation of the ubiquitous, and served as the priming water for today's growth.

"At that time, I asked if I could develop a drone for Hyundai Heavy Industries' overseas operations. At the plant site in the Middle East, CCTV was installed on the tower crane to monitor the site and check the progress, but if the construction site dust gets on the camera lens or the CCTV itself, it needs to go up high. We developed the drone for the first time, reflecting the customer's need to manage the process in real time rather than going directly to the site."

 

 

 

<CEO Lee Il-woo, who constantly invests in R&D to the extent that 70% of his employees are researchers> 

Preoccupy the market with bold execution.

 

Seven years later, things have changed completely. Through continuous technology development, USIS has established itself as a small and strong company that boasts unique technology in drone field. More than 50 intellectual property rights, including 23 patent registrations at home and abroad, as well as applications and practical applications. There are more than 4,000 companies related to drones across the country, among which Usis is ranked among the top three in terms of technology as well as size.

In particular, MiDAS, a self-developed drone autonomous flight software, has been proven to be capable of obtaining the first grade of Good Software (GS) by the Korea Information and Communication Technology Association for the first time in the field. Similar to the automobile's self-driving system, drones equipped with MiDAS fly by themselves and return to their places after performing their missions. Going one step further, drones are developing and preparing for commercialization. It is a facility that can operate drones unmannedly even in remote areas such as islands and remote areas, and when drones land, it automatically charges batteries and stores them in hangars ready for dispatch. For the past two years, it has completed demonstration tests as part of its 'drone regulated sandbox project' in Jeju Island.

Lee, who has been constantly trying new things, strongly felt the need for his own brand to dominate the market. With 80 percent of the world's drone market occupied by Chinese products, what he paid attention to was customized drones that are used in special situations. Since the Taebaek series was developed for transportation of Korea's first marine goods, about 20 types have been developed and specially produced in accordance with various tasks such as real-time environmental pollution measurement, fire initial control, and site support. Recently, it has been able to win orders for large drone businesses in recognition of its technology in the defense field. In December, it supplied a drone system for surveillance and reconnaissance, which will be deployed for the first time in the Navy.

 

 

 

<USIS is a powerful player in both hardware and software in the market for special purpose drones. In the early days, it accumulated hardware technology through outsourcing and collaboration.>

 

"Like last year's Ulsan apartment fire, drones are needed when there is a big fire in high-rise apartments or buildings where fire trucks cannot access immediately. Currently, fire drones fly to that point when a fire breaks out in a forest fire or an outdoor fire and drop a fire bomb into a free fall, which requires a step further. If a product that can fire a fire bomb after mounting a flare or breaking down the tempered glass of a high-rise building is commercialized, many lives can be saved efficiently."

CEO Lee reiterates that it is a special purpose drone that exerts great utility in places that are difficult or inaccessible to humans like fire drones. He added that each type of negative regulation needs to be minimized in order to develop the domestic drone industry and dominate the global market.

USIS is currently developing industrial drones that interact with large manufacturing industries such as shipyards and petrochemicals located in the region and carry out missions such as painting on the site and safety management of facilities. In addition, CEO Lee plans to provide solutions optimized for the era of the fourth industry by applying IoT technology for industrial use based on UNIBA, an IoT platform with good scalability.

I'm looking forward to this year more than ever. Due to high marketability and high demand in the drone sector, construction of the second plant will begin in the first half of this year. We are planning to accelerate the development of markets by signing MOUs to enter foreign markets such as the U.S., Europe, and Southeast Asia. As we have made progress with continuous efforts, we will develop technologies that are essential to people, businesses, and society and grow together with the region."

Representative Lee, who announced his goal to be listed within the next three years by sharing his vision with talented people who can prepare for the future. As hoped, I hope this year will be the first year to stand tall as a global small company.

 

 

<USIS has completed demonstration tests on Jeju Island for the past two years and has developed drone stations where drones automatically float and drop. It is preparing for commercialization.>

 

Written by Lee Gye-seon | Photo by Park Myung-rae

<Corporate Country January 2021 >