Three Hanwha Q CELLS Research Labs in Pangyo Recognized as Nationally Certified "Excellent Safety Management Labs"

Hanwha Solutions' Q CELLS division (Hanwha Q CELLS) announced on October 26, 2026, that three laboratories within its Pangyo Center, its renewable energy research center, have newly obtained the 'Excellent Safety Management Laboratory' certification ¹². This certification is a nationally accredited program granted by the Ministry of Science and ICT following a comprehensive review of safety management systems, activity levels, and the safety awareness of research staff ¹². Particularly given that Hanwha Q CELLS' Pangyo Center serves as a core hub for next-generation solar cell technology, this certification is evaluated as a meaningful result demonstrating that both cutting-edge technology research and the establishment of a safe research environment have been achieved simultaneously.

The Core of Perovskite Tandem Research: Three Laboratories at the Pangyo Center

The three laboratories within Hanwha Q CELLS' Pangyo Center that newly obtained certification this time are active at the forefront of perovskite tandem research. These laboratories consist of a Process Development Lab, a Material Development Lab, and an Analysis Lab, conducting core research for the development of foundational technologies and mass production of 'perovskite tandem' cells, which are next-generation high-efficiency solar cells ².

Solar cell technology is a highly technology-intensive field requiring minute process differences and precise material analysis. Through this certification, Hanwha Q CELLS has officially received recognition for safely managing such advanced research environments. Based on this, Hanwha Q CELLS plans to further strengthen its R&D capabilities for tandem solar cell mass production to quickly secure next-generation technological competitiveness ¹². This is a case proving that safe research infrastructure serves as the foundation for high-value-added technology development.

Meaning and Evaluation Criteria of the 'Excellent Safety Management Laboratory Certification System'

The 'Excellent Safety Management Laboratory Certification System' has been implemented by the Ministry of Science and ICT since 2016 with the purpose of establishing and spreading a culture of autonomous safety management ³⁴. This system evaluates laboratories by strictly reviewing a total of 29 items across three areas: laboratory safety environment systems, actual activity levels, and safety awareness ⁵.

The process Hanwha Q CELLS prepared to obtain this certification aligns with the evaluation criteria. Starting with systematic inspections of safety environment management systems, Hanwha Q CELLS went through system construction and on-site implementation, preparing for the entire process up to raising employees' safety awareness ¹². In particular, strengthening the communication system among safety managers, laboratory heads, and research workers so that the safety management system is organically linked to on-site operations was highly evaluated during the review process ¹².

The certification procedure involves document and on-site reviews, final determination through deliberation and resolution by the Certification Review Committee, and requires maintenance as the validity period of the obtained certification is two years ⁶.

Expanding Certification Benefits and the Broadening Base of the System

Hanwha Q CELLS' efforts are in line with the recent trend of rising awareness of the certification system within corporations and universities. Started with 78 laboratories in 2016, participation in this system has significantly increased, and in 2025, a total of 285 laboratories belonging to 94 institutions obtained certification ⁴.

As of 2026, obtaining certification provides bonus point benefits when applying for the Ministry of Science and ICT's Laboratory Safety Environment Improvement Support Project, and excellent laboratory certificates and plaques are awarded ³⁴. In particular, starting in 2026, a personal category commendation (5 points) rewarding individual contributors such as student researchers was newly established, departing from the previous group-centered award method, and the scale of ministerial commendations was expanded, further strengthening substantive support and incentives ³⁴. For corporations and research institutes, this means they can prove a safe working environment while also securing these institutional benefits.

Meanwhile, cases are also seen where universities allocate their own budgets to prepare for government certification to meet these national standards. For example, through the Graduate School Innovation Planning Team, approximately 80 million won in budget support is provided under the name of 'Happy Laboratory 2.0' aiming to obtain Ministry of Science and ICT certification, along with the construction of safety manuals and environment improvement projects ⁶. Regardless of whether in the corporate or academic world, this is a trend showing that laboratory safety is becoming a core value.

Balance Between Corporate Safety Management and R&D Environments

The Excellent Safety Management Laboratory certification proves that it is core infrastructure for maximizing research outcomes, beyond mere regulatory compliance ². Indeed, Osstem Implant also obtained this certification for three laboratories, including the Educational Materials Development Laboratory, contributing to dental clinical practice and educational materials development through multi-faceted systems such as preemptive hazard prevention and safety and health education for all employees ⁵.

A Hanwha Q CELLS official also stated plans to steadily operate the safety environment management system while spreading best practices throughout the laboratory following this certification acquisition, thereby taking the safety management level of the entire organization to the next level ¹. Like the case of the Pangyo Center, which is at the forefront of advanced renewable energy research, Hanwha Q CELLS' achievement is expected to remain as a good model for spreading autonomous safety management culture in corporate sites ¹². This result once again proves that a safe research environment is key to supporting the sustainability of technological innovation.