As social concern over the AI and science technology sectors weighs heavily in injunction with the inauguration of the new government, KAIST came up with a plan to be reborn into an AI-oriented value creation university, committed to spearheading national innovation based on science and technology, and solving humanity’s problems on June 24.
As Korea faces a technology-dominated paradigm shift, KAIST has accumulated expertise in sparking national development for the past half-decade, and it is now making preparations to grow into a global innovation hub, creating social values beyond being a simple educational and research institution.
In particular, KAIST unveiled a vision to realize “AI basic society,” in which all people use AI without exclusion, so that Korea could become a global top-three power.
To this end, KAIST has been devoting itself to raising industrial competitiveness and effectively solving social issues through Korea’s representative “National AI Research Hub Project,” initiated by the university.
KAIST’s research outcomes in the AI sector have been recognized globally.
KAIST ranked 5th in the world and 1st in Asia during the five-year period between 2020 and 2024 among the world’s top-three academic societies in the field of machine learning – ICML, NeurIPS and ICLR.
The university placed 5th in the world and 4th in Asia in terms of the number of theses posted at the world’s top machine learning, natural language processing and computer vision academic circles – ICML, NeurIPS, ICLR, ACL, EMNLP, NAACL, CVPR, ICCV and ECCV — during the same period.
The university had more theses accepted than anyone else at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), the world’s top semiconductor integrated circuit academic conference, for the past 19 consecutive years.
KAIST is expanding research in the diverse application sector, such as self-driving, urban air mobility (UAM), prediction medical care and explainable AI (XAI) on top of the develop of core AI technologies, such as a Korean-type large language model, neuromorphic semiconductor, and low-power AI processor.
In the manufacturing sector, KAIST’s AI technologies have played a pivotal role in the field of innovation.
A team headed by Prof. Jang Young-jae has raised productivity in the advanced manufacturing field, including in semiconductors and displays based on digital twin using data of the manufacturing field and AI-based prediction technologies.
A team, led by Prof. Kim Sung-min, has advanced the realization of smart factory by developing super-low power wireless tag technologies that track location with the precision of less than a centimeter.
Technologies, such as industrial process optimization and facility failure prediction technology have been applied in the field and are already producing results. In March, Ineezi, founded by Prof. Choi Jae-shik was designated as a national strategic technology in the XAI sector by the government.
Commercialization cases in the robot sector, closely related to AI, have occurred.
The quadruped robot “RAIBO 2,” developed by a team headed by Prof. Hwangbo Jaemin of the Machinery Engineering Department, has drawn public attention for its use in extremely dangerous environmental conditions, such as disaster rescue operations and expedition into rough lands.
A team, headed by Prof. Gong Kyeong-cheol and AngelRobotics, developed the powered exoskeleton “Walk-on Suit,” contributing to the improving of the quality of life for those with paraplegia and impaired walking.
KAIST has also implemented remarkable research into future key technology areas, such as AI semiconductors, quantum cryptography, small satellites, hydrogen fuel batteries, next-generation batteries, and biomimetic censors.
Some attention has been on space exploration technology based on small satellites, asteroid exploration projects, energy harvesting, and high-speed charging technologies.
In the advanced bio and life science sectors, KAIST is working on diverse research, such as synthetic biology and mRNA in cooperation with Merck of Germany.
It has joined forces to establish the Merck Bio Center in Daejeon at a cost of 430 billion won, contributing to the reinvigorating of the regional economy and creating job creation.
KAIST has been expanding its presence based on advanced research capabilities in the industrial sector and on the global stage.
KAIST has established strategic partnerships with globally renowned universities, such as MIT, Standford University and New York University.
The university is ramping up personnel exchanges and joint research by establishing a joint campus in New York with NYU.
It is promoting industry-campus collaboration with global companies, such as Google, Intel and TSMC, and is playing a pivotal role in the development of future technologies and building an innovative ecosystem.
(LAST) These activities have led to the establishment of a strong startup ecosystem that drives Korea’s industries.
The number of startups, including Qnix Computer, Nexon and Naver, has grown to 1,914.
Among them, cumulative assets stood at 94 trillion won last year, and sales amounting to 36 trillion won and some 60,000 jobs.
More than 90 percent of the startups have been founded by KAIST professors and students, presenting a model of startup model based on science technology, contributing to the development of the national economy.
KAIST, which has a number of outcomes like this one, has introduced about 80,000 KAISTians to society, and the university is pursuing innovation that changes Korea and the world by recruiting new gifted manpower.
KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung said, “KAIST will establish itself as a global science technology leader committed to designing the future of Korea and humanity and creating practical values, and we will focus on manpower development and R&D to realize the new government’s national agendum of growing into a global top three AI power.”
“KAIST’s vision in the AI sector is to make efforts to realize society in which all the people can use AI, the manufacturing industry will see its competitiveness come to life through AI and aggressive supply of physical AI, AI robots and AI mobility technologies to the industry field is greatly contributing to raising productivity,” he said.
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