At Coway, we focus our resources on technological innovation to help people enjoy clean air and water with our superior technological expertise and state-of-the-art research facilities. There are 361 researchers dedicated to advancing life-dependent technologies in our R&D Center, the Environment and Quality Research Lab, Design Research Lab, and Cosmetic Product Research Lab.
At Coway, we strengthen our competitive advantages by investing our resources in R&D efforts. Our R&D investment in 2017 reached KRW 36.2 billion, accounting for 1.44% of sales. Of the researchers working at the Coway R&D Center, 18 of them were certified by WQA (Water Quality Association) as CWS (Certified Water Specialists). This ranked first in Asia and third in the world, and our CWS conduct in-depth research on water while renewing their qualifications by taking the test each year. As a result, we have registered 150 patent rights out of 315 we have applied for over the years.
At Coway, we conduct research on water and air with a sense of responsibility and pride in how we take care of the essential part of life. At our Environmental Analysis Center, we collect and analyze water from more than 40 countries around the world and establish our own “Coway World Water Map” based on which we respond to the conditions of water quality that changes depending on geography and environment.
Meanwhile, we are carrying out the “IAQ (Indoor Air Quality)” field test where we analyze the air quality on-site at the customers to make sure they can enjoy clean indoor air everywhere in response to increasing concern on particulate matters. The test is designed to study indoor air quality in the actual environment we live in, not a controlled environment. Twenty-four air quality indicators were developed based on the data collected from 1,300 households, used to quantify the health effects of pollutants and provide customized filters for our customers. Our dedication and efforts led to product innovation and patented technologies.
Business Case
We encourage our researchers to become certified for “water sommelier” to provide clean water for our customers. Those who are qualified play a key role in evaluating water taste for the development of water purifiers.
In 2017, 26 researchers qualified as water sommeliers through the Water Sommelier Training Program*. 20 of them received the Intermediate (Level 3) which is the basic level of water sommelier while 6 of them have acquired the Advanced (Level 2) which allows them to train others. We are the only company in the country that has water sommeliers of Advanced level.
We plan to develop our water sommelier training programs for the researchers of the Environmental Technology Research Lab and strengthen our competitive advantages in the market.
The Water Sommelier Training Program is organized by the Korea International Sommelier Association with an aim to enhance the expertise of researchers and strengthen our brand reputation as a leading water company in Korean.
Water sommeliers, also known as water specialists, are those who not only evaluate the taste of water but also study the type and characteristics of water and specialize in recommending water according to time and situation.
