"Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving beyond a tool that helps human work into a force that is changing the essence of science."
At the International Research Industry Convention (IRIC) 2025 held at the COEX Magok Convention Center in Seoul on the 28th, Techfrontier CEO Han Sang-gi delivered a keynote speech on the theme "AI for science: Opportunities and challenges for the research industry," saying, "AI is not just an automation technology, but is opening a new scientific paradigm."
Han said, "Global corporations such as DeepMind and Anthropic are rushing to release AI models for scientific research," and predicted, "The trend of AI improving AI and building problem-solving capabilities could ultimately lead to an 'explosion of intelligence.'"
CEO Han Sang-gi graduated from Seoul National University's Department of Computer Engineering and received a doctorate in AI from KAIST. Han worked at Samsung Electronics and Daum Communications (now Kakao) and founded VenturePort, which could be called Korea's first accelerator (startup studio). Since 2011, Han has led Techfrontier, a technology consulting corporations.
In particular, Han said, "Fully automated laboratories are emerging where AI directly operates experimental equipment, analyzes data, and interprets results," adding, "An era of 'co-scientists' in which humans and AI collaborate is opening."
Han also noted cases where the AI AlphaFold predicts protein structures and AI is used in fusion control, new material exploration, and climate prediction, adding, "AI is no longer a research assistant but is establishing itself as an agent of scientific discovery."
Han predicted that the emergence of AI will bring fundamental changes to the research industry. The research industry refers to a research and development (R&D)-linked industry that supports R&D activities throughout the entire research and development process to improve research and commercialization outcomes and efficiency. It consists of R&D services such as testing, analysis, design, and interpretation, as well as the research equipment industry.
Han said, "Research equipment is evolving beyond the level of measuring data or producing samples into an autonomous research partner that designs, revises, and optimizes experiments on its own," adding, "When AI improves AI, designs experiments, and interprets results, the speed and scope of research will expand to levels beyond human imagination."
Han added, "For AI for science, high-quality datasets, an open-source research ecosystem, and close collaboration between AI researchers and scientists are essential."
First Vice Minister Gu Hyeok-chae of the Ministry of Science and ICT said in congratulatory remarks, "The convergence of AI and the research industry is an efficient solution for an era of declining workforce," adding, "The government will also support innovation in the research ecosystem through a research and development (R&D) budget of unprecedented scale."
The International Research Industry Convention 2025 was held that day under the theme "AI meets the research industry." Along with exhibits of products and services that allow participants to experience various fields of the research industry using AI, a range of programs were offered, including an international conference, new technology workshops, and business and technology transfer consultations.