LG Uplus is joining hands with data-space specialist IBCT to help South Korean manufacturers respond to European supply-chain data regulations.

LG Uplus said on Sept. 28 it signed a strategic partnership with IBCT and will 추진 a joint business to support South Korean manufacturers with Catena-X adoption and system building and operations.

Regulations in Europe are tightening across supply chains, covering product production histories, raw material sourcing information and carbon emissions. This has increased the need for South Korean manufacturers that trade with local European companies to manage and share data in line with related standards.

Catena-X is a data-sharing ecosystem involving global manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. It supports participating companies in keeping control of their data while connecting and sharing production and supply-chain data in a standardised way.

The two companies will build an integrated business system that supports the full process for companies seeking to adopt Catena-X, from consultation and membership to system 구축, infrastructure provision and service operations. The goal is to reduce the burden on small and midsize companies of having to prepare technology and infrastructure on their own to join Catena-X.

IBCT is Cofinity-X's only partner in South Korea. Cofinity-X operates Catena-X's commercial service. IBCT is responsible for South Korean companies' Catena-X membership and onboarding, and system 구축. Based on its own data-space platform, it also provides functions to address key areas including product carbon footprints, digital product passports, supply-chain traceability and certificate management.

LG Uplus will provide cloud, telecommunications and security infrastructure needed for service operations. It will support corporate customers with Catena-X adoption consulting and building and operations, and combine its own security solutions to provide an environment that can be connected to the global data ecosystem.

Kwon Geun-seop (권근섭), head of the customer group at LG Uplus, said, "Based on our corporate customer base and cloud, network and security capabilities, we will support South Korean manufacturers so they can adopt Catena-X more easily and stably."

Lee Jeong-ryun (이정륜), CEO of IBCT, said, "By combining IBCT's data-space technology and LG Uplus' ICT infrastructure, we will provide a service that allows exporters to connect effectively to the global manufacturing ecosystem."