The Center for Advanced Technology Research and Development

The Center for Advanced Technology Research and Development (CATRAD) is an umbrella organization that comprises the University's scientific research and development institutes, primarily devoted to developing information technology, nanotechnology, bioengineering, materials engineering and other cutting-edge technologies. It aims to integrate research, teaching and manufacturing, to coordinate the exchange of intellectual products and high technologies at home and abroad, and to help the growth of researchers of exceptional scientific abilities and originality, thereby contributing to improving Kim Il Sung University to be one of the world top-ranking research universities.

The CATRAD is actively engaged in joint research and development projects with the faculties on the campus, and is making an notable contribution to rearing innovative talents with hands-on experiences and to setting up cutting-edge technology industries such as information industry, nanotechnology industry, bioindustry so that the nation's industrial structure can be more knowledge-based.

The CATRAD was founded on October 16th, 2014, incorporating the Institute of Information Technology, Institute of Nanotechnology, Institute of Bioindustry, Institute of Electronical Materials, Institute of Intelligent Control Techniques, and Analysis Center in order to lay down the foundation for the nation's competitive top-notch industries by synergistically advancing the basic core technologies. Initially it was called Hi-tech Development Center, and later renamed Center of Advanced Technology Research and Development. The CATRAD embraces eight research institutes and three laboratories.


The Institute of Information Technology(IIT)is dedicated to research of information technology, and development and application of software and hardware, which is the backbone of most of all high-tech industries.

The IIT comprises six laboratories and one program service office.

The institute focuses on core information technologies such as on-line information services (software project management, R&D management, on-line testing, integrated retrieval, on-line GIS services), real-time multimedia communication (videoconferencing), anti-virus/security software, vulnerability analysis, AI technologies (facial recognition, speech recognition, number plate recognition, image recognition and searching, medical image analysis, natural language processing), in developing and applying domestically competitive IT products.

On a national scale, the IIT is one of the nation's leading IT product service businesses and IT expert training center as a model IT enterprise where scientific research and manufacturing are preferably integrated.


The Institute of Telecommunication Industry(ITI), as an educational, R&D and technical service entity, is committed to establishing an original cutting-edge telecommunication industry, training advanced ICT experts, comprehensively developing ICT products, providing designing, technical supervision and consulting services to the entities aspiring to upgrade their in-house ICT infrastructure, and fostering international competitiveness to go to the world market.

The ITI has four laboratories.

The Institute has so far conducted a wide range of development projects such as VoIP, NGN, mobile communication, data communication, real-time multimedia communication, communication devices manufacturing, etc., and therefore finished the NGN core elements like softswitch, media gateway and integrated network management system.

All those new technologies and systems developed by the ITI have been widely introduced and applied in the nation's telecommunication network. Now millions of subscribers are enjoying the equipment, devices, apps and services the ITI has developed – a collection of multi-size equipment such as IP-PBX, multi-protocol translator, access gateway, digital trunk gateway, security gateway as well as a wide range of services like weather forecasting service, CRBT service and voicemail service.

Recently, the ITI is pushing ahead with its future-oriented R&D projects like 4G-, 5G-mobile access and central network technologies, network function virtualization and software-defined network technology, passive optical network technology, IoT telecommunication technology and so forth.


The goal of the Institute of Nanotechnology(INT) is to advance nanotechnology and its applied research, further contributing to the development of the country’s nanoscience, nanotechnology and the national economy.

The INT comprises four laboratories.

The Institute has so far distinguished itself as one of the world's leading laboratories of nanoformulation technology for metallic materials through its technological developments on the nanometer scale (such as 10 to 30 nm) of nanogold, nanosilver, nanoselenium production technology. The entity has also developed a wide variety of health foods, food supplements, and medications, thus contributing to the public health.


The Institute of Bioindustry(IBI) is dedicated to setting up the nation's bioindustry by applying advanced research findings of bioscience and biotechnologies into the realities of the country, further contributing to the country's economic growth and the public welfare as a whole.

The IBI embraces four laboratories.

The IBI's key research areas include genetic engineering, biohydrometallurgy and GMP technology. In the course of developing and applying those technologies, it has completed a series of state-priority research projects, becoming renowned as one of the nation's highest-ranking enterprises in the areas mentioned.

The institute at present hosts council meetings of both Bioprocess Technology Sub-commission under State Academic Degrees and Titles Conferring Commission, and State Science and Technological Assessment Commission in Clean Room Technology, with a reputation of renowned academic and research center.


The Institute of Electronic Materials(IEM) aims at exploring for new functional ceramic materials and developing their applied technologies, beginning home production of most of sensors, and becoming a leader in sonar and other ultrasound electronic equipment, while maintaining the so-far-acquired domestic leading position in piezoelectric ceramics.

The IEM's present technological holdings include technologies of making piezoelectric ceramics, non-linear resistance, structural ceramics, along with underwater sound antennae design and manufacturing technology, underwater vehicular navigation control technology, multichannel ultrasonic signal processing technology, and other technologies of making ultrasonic electronic devices.

The institute produces a variety of underwater acoustic devices such as scanning fishfinder sonars and netsondes, as well as ultrasonic electronic devices like ultrasonic cleansers, ultrasonic inspirators, etc.

The IEM has four laboratories.


Analysis Center is the University's comprehensive analytical institution dedicated to research and teaching of advanced, competitive core analysis technologies. It embraces three laboratories (Laboratory for Inorganic Matters and Mass Spectrometry, Laboratory for Structural Analysis, and Laboratory for Organic Matters Analysis)

The Center is furnished with scores of state-of-the-art analyzing devices and equipment such as ultra-performance liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer, atomic absorption spectrometer, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectrometer, scanning electron microscope, amino acid analyzer, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer and so on.

It has been recognized as one of the nation's foremost quality assessment entities as well as the country's representative center for comprehensive analysis of all matters. It has acquired a national quality assessment authority status in April 2016, and now provides quality assessment services to 260 matters of nine areas such as environment, food, mining, health, materials, sports, petroleum and its processed goods and the like.


The Institute of Intelligent Control Techniques(IICT) aims at researching and developing high-tech measuring apparatus and analyzing instruments, and contributing to the university’s integration of teaching, research and manufacturing.

It embraces three laboratories (Laboratory for Smart Devices, Laboratory for Smart Control System, Laboratory for Precision Machinery).

Quantum key distribution devices and laser seed processors are some of the achievement that the IICT has made in developing state-of-the-art devices and electronic/mechanic apparatuses and in contributing to modernizing the production processes of scores of enterprises across the country.


The Machinery and Electronic Devices Plant(MEP) is a factory for developing and producing intellectual property products, thereby contributing to the university’s efforts to integrate teaching, research and production.

It is equipped with CNC-based machine parts processing and injection-molding process, machine assembly and device-case manufacturing process, PCB production and electronic products manufacturing process.

The MEP is made up of one laboratory (Design Laboratory for Experimental Apparatus) and three work teams for processing, finishing and assembly.

The Plant produces a wide variety of high-precision machine processed goods, various device cases and metal-pipe processed goods by using many machine tools such as CNC 4-axle processing lathes, CNC laths, CNC plasma cutters, processing lathes of electric line discharge, vertical plus horizontal millers, plane plus cylinder grinders along with automatic benders, electrostatic sprayers, argon welders, metal sheet benders, and pressing machines. It also produces printed circuit boards and assembles electronic devises.