Science ministry grants plaques to five new AI and ICT talent research centers

The science ministry said Thursday it awarded plaques to five newly selected university research centers that will train advanced artificial intelligence and information and communications technology talent.

The plaques went to three new University ICT Research Centers, known as ITRCs, and two centers under the regional intelligence innovation talent program. About 30 people attended the ceremony at Pusan National University, including Nam Cheol-ki, the ministry's software policy director, and Pusan National University President Choi Jae-won, along with the heads of the five centers. The ministry said the ceremony marked the launch of the centers selected in this year's earlier announcement and shared each university's plans for AI and ICT talent development.

The three ITRC projects cover AI semiconductors at Korea University's Sejong campus, system software at Pohang University of Science and Technology, and quantum-AI convergence at Hanyang University. Two general projects will each receive 1 billion won ($745,879) a year, while a smaller regional project will get 500 million won ($372,940). Each project is to train 40 master's and doctoral students a year, or 20 in the case of the regional project.

The two regional centers will focus on smart manufacturing and ports at Pusan National University and on energy, smart farms and mobility at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology. Each will receive 2 billion won ($1.49 million) a year for up to eight years, and will place at least 20 employees a year in master's-level degree courses and involve at least 20 student researchers in joint industry-academic projects.

"Training the core research talent that industry needs, based on the research capabilities of universities, is important for strengthening national AI and ICT competitiveness and for the development and advancement of regional industries," Nam said. He added that the ministry will actively support the centers so they can serve as hubs for industry-academic cooperation and produce strong research results.

The ITRC program began in 2000 and has contributed to training about 20,000 master's and doctoral graduates through research support at universities. The regional program, launched in 2015, has trained about 1,400 regional ICT specialists.