■Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) announced on the morning of the 21st that it has appointed Ji-young Lee as a special professor in the artificial intelligence (AI) graduate school at the university headquarters. The appointment period is three years, from May of this year to April 30, 2028. On this day, Professor Ji-young Lee delivered a special lecture on the topic "Is humanity ready for the AI era?" and discussed AI awareness and ethics issues with UNIST members. UNIST plans to build an AI campus with Professor Lee to provide an education and research environment based on AI and to cultivate human-centered AI experts.
■The Ministry of Science and ICT is calling for nominations for the domestic candidates for the Aspiring Young Researcher Award, which is presented by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to outstanding young researchers in the region, until June 18. Established in 2011, the Aspiring Award is given to a young scientist under 40 who has produced innovative research results through APEC international cooperation, with a prize of $25,000 (approximately 33 million won). This year's theme for the Aspiring Award is "AI-bio convergence: AI-based inclusive biotechnology to solve social issues," and applicants must be scientists from APEC member countries under 40.
■The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) signed a business agreement with KT on the 21st at its headquarters. They agreed to jointly demonstrate location information services for wearable devices and precision search services at the scene based on low-power three-dimensional positioning technology for safety measures, and to push for commercialization. In addition, they plan to actively collaborate in building a situation awareness and precision search support platform, developing low-power technologies to maximize operating time, and establishing system standards. Through this business agreement, both organizations plan to promote joint research and academic exchange on national safety technology.
■The Korea Institute of Fusion Energy announced on the 21st that it has signed a research agreement with the Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for joint research on high-temperature superconductors. High-temperature superconductors are new materials that maintain a superconductive state at relatively high temperatures, in contrast to low-temperature superconductors that lose electrical resistance at extremely low temperatures, and are considered key technologies for miniaturizing, enhancing performance, and improving the economy of fusion devices. Oh Young-guk, director of the institute, stated, "We will take proactive measures to secure high-temperature superconducting magnet technology capabilities and gain a leading edge in future fusion technology."
■Shupine Therapeutics, founded by Professor Kim Jeong-beom of UNIST's Department of Biomedical Engineering, won the final championship of the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit World Final Pitching Competition held in Washington, D.C., on the 13th. In this competition, which featured over 300 companies from around the world, Shupine Therapeutics was recognized for the innovation and marketability of its implantable hydrogel technology "ShupinGel" for treating spinal cord injuries, which is the first of its kind in the world. Professor Kim stated, "Using this opportunity, we will embark on expanding into overseas markets, including the U.S. market."