Seoul links power grids and campuses to secure AI dominance

Rather than treating these elements in isolation, multiple ministries are launching coordinated initiatives this week that tie energy capacity, talent pipelines, and legal protections into a single national strategy.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment began a one-year pilot project on Sept. 19 in Jinan, North Jeolla Province, and Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province, to test seasonal allowable ratings for transmission lines. By adjusting capacity based on cooler ambient temperatures, the government aims to reduce output curtailment for renewable energy.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Science and ICT opened two new specialized training hubs to address the shortage of high-level engineers. In Wonju, the AI Convergence Innovation Education Center launched on Sept. 17 with a goal to train 160 professionals this year in digital healthcare and physical AI. A parallel facility, the AI Semiconductor Innovation Institute, opened at Hanyang University to cultivate over 110 master's and doctoral graduates over six years.

Funding for the Hanyang institute totals an average of 2 billion won annually, with participating companies including SK Hynix and Samsung Display collaborating on research centers focused on NPU and chiplet design. These institutes follow similar openings at Yonsei and Sungkyunkwan universities.

On the regulatory front, the Korean Intellectual Property Office visited AI Biz in Cheonan on Sept. 18 to strengthen overseas patent capabilities for industrial AI firms. Officials provided guidance on examination practices in five major jurisdictions. Ha Seung-jae, CEO of AI Biz, said securing strong foreign patents is essential to protecting unique technologies in a rapidly changing international market.

To sustain this ecosystem, the science ministry also met with university leaders to discuss administrative reforms. The changes include unified settlement standards for research funds and revised reward distribution. Park In-kyu, head of the Office for Science and Technology Innovation, stated the goal is creating an autonomous research environment where field feedback shapes policy.