The Ministry of Science and ICT is establishing an “AI Semiconductor Innovation Research Center” at Seoul National University and, in cooperation with companies, will promote next-generation AI semiconductor research and talent development. To increase the share of artificial intelligence (AI) in university education, it will also expand the “AI-Centered University” program.

On the 29th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held an opening ceremony for the AI Semiconductor Innovation Research Center at the Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center of Seoul National University. Five companies, including LG Electronics and AI semiconductor startup FuriosaAI, are participating in the center. Professors, graduate students, and corporate employees will jointly conduct research into AI semiconductor technologies that companies actually need. Research will also be carried out using neural processing units (NPUs), semiconductors specialized for AI computation.

Seoul National University will operate five centers that will conduct research on AI semiconductors for devices such as smartphones, AI semiconductors for data centers, and ultra-low-power semiconductors. Students will gain practical research experience by taking part in joint research and internship programs with companies. The government plans to support the research center with up to KRW 2 billion per year for as long as six years and to foster more than 110 master’s and doctoral-level talents.

On the same day, the Ministry of Science and ICT also held a “Joint Launch Ceremony for AI-Centered Universities and AX Graduate Schools” at Yonsei University. At AI-Centered Universities, all students receive basic AI education and also take courses that integrate AI into their respective majors. This year, the government selected 18 institutions, including Yonsei University, as AI-Centered Universities and will provide each university with up to KRW 3 billion per year for as long as eight years. Next year, 38 existing Software (SW)-Centered Universities will also undergo evaluation and be converted into AI-Centered Universities.

The government has also selected 15 AI Transformation (AX) graduate schools to cultivate talent capable of applying AI in industrial settings. It will provide each graduate school with up to KRW 3 billion per year for as long as six years. Twenty-six companies, including Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Aerospace, POSCO Holdings, and Doosan Robotics, will participate in joint research with universities to solve real-world industrial problems using AI.

Popular News