Science ministry awards 30 public-sector AI projects at first innovation challenge

The science ministry said Wednesday it awarded 30 public-sector artificial intelligence projects at the first "2026 Public Institution AI Innovation Challenge" awards, held jointly with the finance ministry at Nuritkum Square in Seoul, drawing about 300 attendees.

The challenge, run from June to August, drew 316 project submissions from 105 institutions. Two rounds of expert review in September narrowed the field to 30 winners — two grand prizes, eight top prizes, 10 excellence awards and 10 innovation awards. The event was the public-sector track of the nationwide AI competition launched in March, organized by the National Information Society Agency.

Korea Western Power took a grand prize in the proof-of-concept category for a K-gas turbine that is the first in Korea to be run by AI and inspected by robots. The system analyzes power-plant data and links digital twins, AI agents and robots, applying a "K-AI full stack" that integrates domestic NPUs and domestic AI models. The company expects an economic effect of about 2.1 billion won ($1.57 million) a year.

Incheon International Airport Corp. won the other grand prize, in the applied-cases category, for shifting aviation safety management from visual inspection and manpower to a 24-hour AI prediction and detection system that preemptively blocks risks throughout aircraft takeoff and landing.

At an "AI innovation showcase" at the venue, Korea Electric Power Corp. presented a service that analyzes electricity-use patterns in single-person households and detects anomalies to find people at risk of dying alone early. Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp. demonstrated a service that uses AI-generated digital watermarks to verify K-brand products as genuine with a smartphone photo.

"This event is deeply meaningful in that it is the first event held to showcase and share the diverse achievements of public institutions as agents of AI innovation, realizing services that people can feel in their daily lives and administrative efficiency," said Ryu Je-myung, the science ministry's second vice minister.

Ryu said the ministry would support the development of independent AI models, the expansion of AI computing infrastructure and the demonstration and spread of domestic NPUs so that Korean AI technology is widely used in public settings. He added that the ministry would push policy support so that public institutions' bold challenges and the spread of AI innovation reach the wider public sector, letting people feel the change in their daily lives.