17 University ICT and Grand Research Centers Selected for Fostering Innovative Talent

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 2nd that it has newly selected 12 university ICT Research Centers (ITRC) and 5 Grand ICT Research Centers to proactively respond to changes in the ICT environment and cultivate innovative talents who will create future new growth engines.

By selecting a total of 17 new centers, about 660 graduate students will newly participate in research this year, expanding the cultivation of creative and convergent talents who can lead future new technologies and new industries.

First, the University ICT Research Center support project has been promoted since 2000 to cultivate master's and doctoral level researchers through core research projects in promising core ICT technology fields, and more than 15,000 students have been produced so far.

This year, a total of 12 centers were selected focusing on promising fields such as artificial intelligence, where there is high demand for advanced talents industrially and politically, and fields where securing technology is urgent. These include Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (wireless communication, Internet of Things, big data), Pusan National University (quantum sensors, blockchain), Dongguk University (artificial intelligence - learning intelligence), Kyungpook National University (artificial intelligence - complex intelligence), Korea University (smart media), Ewha Womans University (converged content), Soongsil University (systems and cryptographic security), Ajou University (ICT convergence - medical), and Chung-Ang University (ICT convergence - smart city).

The Ministry of Science and ICT has extended the support period for newly selected centers from a maximum of 6 years to 8 years and provides support of about 800 million KRW annually. It is evaluated that an environment where researchers can conduct the research they want is established through the establishment of ‘Innovation Leap-type Research Projects’ and the expansion of ‘Student Creative Autonomous Projects’ (from 3 to 5 projects).

The jointly selected ‘Grand ICT Research Center’ support project has been promoted since 2015 to cultivate regional innovative talents in the ICT field through large-scale industry-academia cooperation joint research with small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-sized companies. This year, to lead the intelligent innovation of regional companies by utilizing intelligent technology capabilities, one center was selected in each of the five major regions: Gyeonggi/Incheon (Korea University of Technology and Education), Chungcheong (Chungbuk National University), Honam (Sunchon National University), Dongbuk (Kumoh National Institute of Technology), and Dongsan (Dong-Eui University), totaling 5 centers.

The selected centers will receive annual support of 2 billion KRW for up to 8 years. They will play the role of regional base research centers through operating master's degree programs for employees (in the intelligent field) linked to regional industries and conducting cooperative programs with regional small and medium-sized enterprises, mid-sized companies, and local governments.

Oh Sang-jin, Director of the Information and Communication Industry Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, emphasized, “ICT innovative technology is expected to play a key role in economic growth and enhancing national competitiveness in the post-COVID era, and we will spare no policy support to ensure that ICT core talents can be sufficiently cultivated by actively supporting innovative and creative research by master's and doctoral students.”

Meanwhile, two ITRC centers (content and intelligent semiconductor fields) currently under re-competition are expected to be additionally selected by the end of June after evaluation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.