Gwangju City, CJ OliveNetworks, and GIST Join Hands to Foster AI Talent

Mayor Lee Yong-seop: "I Will Lead South Korea to Become a Global AI Power"

On the morning of the 15th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, took a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement for fostering the artificial intelligence industry and creating jobs with Cha In-hyuk, CEO of CJ OliveNetworks Co., Ltd., and Kim In-su, Acting President of Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, in the city hall business room. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City, CJ OliveNetworks, and Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) have joined hands to nurture artificial intelligence talent.

This agreement marks the 87th business agreement for establishing a Gwangju-type AI business foundation, which Gwangju City has actively promoted as a future strategic industry.

On the 15th, Gwangju City signed a "Business Agreement for AI Industry Promotion and Job Creation" with CJ OliveNetworks and GIST at the City Hall Business Room.

CJ OliveNetworks is leading CJ Group's digital transformation through the latest ICT technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing.

Through research and development of core digital transformation technologies like AI and blockchain, it provides DT solutions necessary for corporate management and develops IT services in manufacturing, logistics, distribution, and media sectors, expanding into various fields.

GIST established a Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence and has been nurturing AI talent mainly through integrated master's and doctoral programs with about 50 students annually since last year.

In particular, it cultivates practical talent who have intensively experienced AI foundational and core education, technology demonstration, and startup-oriented field research based on empirical data and SW/HW infrastructure over 4 to 5 years.

According to this agreement, Gwangju City will develop and operate support programs for AI industry promotion, specialized personnel education, and employment linkage programs.

CJ OliveNetworks will provide technical and policy consulting in comprehensive IT service fields such as AI big data analysis, nurture talent, and establish a second research center located in Gwangju to create jobs.

GIST will operate and provide AI specialized personnel training programs, promote international joint research cooperation, and conduct industry-academia joint research with CJ OliveNetworks.

Prior to the agreement, CJ OliveNetworks has continuously exchanged personnel training and technical information with Gwangju City and GIST since last year to cooperate in the AI-centered industrial convergence complex project promoted by Gwangju City and discussed possible collaboration areas.

Additionally, after participating in the 2020 AI Startup Competition hosted by the GIST AI Research Institute, this year CJ OliveNetworks is participating in the K-Digital Platform project, a core practical talent development project in the AI digital field conducted by the GIST AI Research Institute.

Chai In-hyuk, CEO of CJ OliveNetworks, said, "In an era where digital capabilities using AI are the competitiveness of nations and regions, we are pleased to collaborate with Gwangju City and GIST to participate in fostering the local AI industry." He promised, "Based on the company's DT capabilities such as big data analysis, we will support talent development and provide jobs to excellent personnel residing in Gwangju through the establishment of a second research center."

Kim In-su, Acting President of GIST, said, "I hope this agreement will be an opportunity for the successful development of the AI industry," and added, "We will do our best to revitalize the local economy through nurturing talent and creating jobs that will lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution era."

Mayor Lee Yong-seop stated, "Once the AI highway that Gwangju City is building, including operating an AI mentor group, creating and expanding an AI startup fund, and organizing AI startup camps, is completed, various AI industries will accelerate, and citizens will experience and be satisfied with high-quality AI services." He added, "With this agreement, CJ OliveNetworks and GIST will join in the development of Korea's AI industrial ecosystem in Gwangju, and the synergy is expected to lead to job creation, income increase, and economic revitalization."

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