The government has hired 400 postdoctoral researchers (postdocs) with annual salaries of 90 million won to prevent talent outflows in artificial intelligence (AI) and science and technology and to attract students studying abroad back to Korea.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and four institutes of science and technology—the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)—said on the 29th that they have selected eight "InnoCORE" research groups to lead advanced strategic research in AI convergence and completed the appointment of 400 postdoctoral researchers. "InnoCORE" refers to core research personnel who drive AI convergence through innovation.
The InnoCORE research groups consist of eight teams, including KAIST's "innovative research group for large-scale language models," DGIST's "bio-embodied physical AI research group," GIST's "AI-nano convergence research group for early diagnosis of brain diseases," and UNIST's "intelligent hydrogen technology innovation research group." Each researcher will receive 90 million won in research funding, with additional research funds also secured.
This program hired 116 newly minted Ph.D.s from domestic universities, 56 domestic talents with overseas Ph.D. coursework or postdoc experience, and 103 foreign nationals. They will build on-the-ground experience at corporations, government-funded research institutes, and universities, and conduct joint research with Naver, LG AI Research, and Samsung Electronics.
The ministry plans to expand new research groups next year and broaden the scope of support from this year's AI convergence to the entire spectrum of strategic technologies. The recruitment of overseas talent will also expand beyond the United States to Europe, Singapore, and Japan.
First Vice Minister Gu Hyuk-chae of the Ministry of Science and ICT said, "We have secured 400 top-tier Ph.D.-level personnel to overcome the crisis of AI talent outflow and get ahead in the global competition to secure science and technology talent," and added, "We will provide hands-on support throughout the process so that young researchers can grow into the vanguard driving national development."