The government has moved to build a cooperation framework that consolidates the four major institutes of science and technology with key corporations to spread artificial intelligence (AI) transformation (AX) in regional industries. The plan is to link universities' research capabilities with corporations' on-site demand to carry through to joint research, talent development, and commercialization.
Bae Kyung-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, attended the "Four Institutes of Science and Technology–Regional AX partner corporations memorandum of understanding ceremony" at the KAIST Academic Cultural Complex on the 23rd and discussed cooperation plans between the institutes and corporations. The event serves as the first step in turning the "Four Institutes of Science and Technology AX Strategy," announced at the Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting this month, into actual cooperative projects.
Representatives from the four institutes—KAIST, GIST, DGIST, and UNIST—and 16 partner corporations attended the event. Each institution unveiled plans to establish AX joint research institutes tailored to the characteristics of regional industries. KAIST will focus on defense and bio, GIST on energy and secondary batteries, DGIST on robots and sensor semiconductors, and UNIST on shipbuilding and marine and materials, advancing cooperation with corporations in these areas.
Participating corporations span defense, bio, semiconductors, batteries, and shipbuilding. LIG Nex1, KAI, Celltrion, Bioneer, Rebellions, Panacea, KEPCO, POSCO FUTURE M, Sebang Lithium Battery, HL Mando, SL Corporation, L&F, PATRON, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and POSCO Holdings were included as partners for the joint research institutes. The government said it aims to accelerate the development and demonstration of AI technologies that can be applied immediately on regional industry sites.
Kakao also joined the cooperation through a separate agreement. Kakao said it will create the "Kakao AI Sail," an initiative to foster regional AI talent and corporations, and run cooperation programs with the institutes based on a 50 billion won AI development fund over the next five years. Key components include talent development, startup support, and training for employees of regional corporations.
Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said, "The national grand transition to AI bears fruit not only through the government's determination but when the spirit of challenge shown by corporations driving innovation on the ground takes deep root in the regional ecosystem," adding, "This memorandum of understanding is expected to serve as an opportunity to concentrate the capabilities of corporations and the institutes across all areas of national strategic technologies, and the government will also listen to voices from the field and provide full support for AX innovation."