"ICT-Based Care Technology Development for Vulnerable Groups" KT Signs Business Agreement with KAIST

Development of Technology for Supporting Vulnerable Groups, Emotional Care, and Emergency Safety Rescue ICT

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] KT announced that on the 23rd, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KAIST at the KT Gwanghwamun Building East in Jongno-gu, Seoul, focusing on cooperation for technology development to support socially vulnerable groups.

KT and KAIST will utilize technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the care sector for vulnerable groups, sharing the common goal of ‘integrating ICT into the care field.’ The main areas of cooperation include ▲joint IT technology development for vulnerable group care ▲AI technology research ▲prototype application field studies.

KT will focus on developing technologies that support vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities to prevent their social exclusion. In particular, KT will conduct research to provide care services based on its technologies, including AI, targeting elderly people in welfare blind spots. Through this, KT will offer ICT services for emotional care, such as alleviating loneliness and depression among the elderly, as well as safety and rescue in emergency situations.

KAIST will develop systems for all vulnerable groups in need of care and research AI and IoT technologies to quickly detect when they are in danger. Based on this, KAIST is preparing to host a university ICT research center (ITRC) and develop ICT that can be integrated into welfare systems for all vulnerable groups, from children to the elderly.

KT and KAIST will hold demo days to jointly evaluate and discuss research results and participate in company matching days where companies related to research technologies meet to discuss mutual development. Through this, they plan to share research outcomes and the latest ICT trends related to care, and derive solutions to overcome difficulties in welfare sites for actual vulnerable groups.

Woochang Kim, Head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at KAIST, said, "This research started from the shared goal of utilizing technologies like artificial intelligence not for commercial purposes but for the humane life of social members," adding, "I hope KT and KAIST secure global leadership in ICT-based care for vulnerable groups through active research and technology development."

Chaehwan Lim, Head of KT AI·DX Platform Business Division, stated, “With this agreement, we have taken the first step toward developing ICT-based care technologies for socially vulnerable groups,” and added, “As a digital platform company, KT will practice ESG management contributing to care for socially vulnerable groups based on its advanced technologies and know-how.”

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