The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 21st that it plans to hold an 'AI·Digital Native Debate Competition' and an 'AI·Digital Paper Contest' for middle, high school, and university students. The participant recruitment period for the debate competition is from July 21 to August 22, and for the paper contest, it is from July 21 to September 26. This debate competition and paper contest will involve various scholars and opinion leaders participating in the 'Digital Society' as judges and mentors to support the strengthening of participants' capabilities and the spread of social discussion. The debate competition will be divided into three institutional sectors: middle, high school, and university, where any youth or young adult who meets the requirements can apply as a team of two. For the paper contest, any university or graduate student interested in AI and digital issues (including those on leave or expected to graduate) can participate individually or as joint research with up to three members, freely pursuing research on one of the proposed topics. More detailed information regarding the debate competition and the paper contest can be found on the Digital Society website (https://digitalsociety.or.kr).
The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) noted on the 21st that it held a 'KIGAM-Corporations Meeting' on the 18th at the researcher's future Earth research building conference room, inviting representatives from 11 partner corporations to discuss collaborative strategies covering the entire cycle of technology commercialization. This meeting was organized to strengthen collaboration from the research planning stage to post-support, ensuring that 'technology transfer' can continue innovation without disruption. Following this, a discussion session on institutional improvements was also arranged based on voices from the corporate field. Key practical improvement requests were intensively discussed, including expanding private access to unused research equipment, increasing opportunities for joint research, aligning equipment rental fee standards with reality, preparing dedicated spaces for technology testing, and strengthening the functions of startup incubation centers, seeking directions to enhance cooperation between research fields and corporations.
Quantum computing specialist corporation Norma announced on the 21st that it will jointly hold the '1st Quantum AI Competition' with AI corporation Artificial Intelligence Factory. The upcoming Quantum AI Competition is a practical hackathon themed on 'Quantum AI' technology that integrates quantum computing and AI, designed to expand experiences with Norma's latest service, quantum cloud, while cultivating the next generation of excellent talents. Applications for participation are available until midnight on the 5th of next month through the official website of Artificial Intelligence Factory, and pre-explanatory videos and tutorials related to the competition are offered via the official YouTube channel.
The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) announced on the 21st that it will operate a science experience program called '2nd Chemiro Way' with Lee Yoon Bio, targeting 72 elementary, middle, and high school students at its headquarters in Daejeon for three days until the 23rd. Chemiro Way is an educational program conducted to spread science culture and support youth career exploration, where participants will experience science experiments firsthand and tour the research institute. The event will be conducted according to age groups: the first day will involve elementary students in grades 4-6, the second day will involve middle school students, and the third day will involve high school students. Starting this year, to uncover and spread case studies in science culture and career exploration, KRICT will hold a 'Chemiro Way Experience Review Contest' for participants. Anyone who participated in Chemiro Way can participate, and a total of six excellent cases will be selected and awarded in each institutional sector of elementary, middle, and high schools.