10 Years of Nurturing ICT Elite Talent... 22 University Startups at Pohang University of Science and Technology

10-Year Business Performance Presentation

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Over the past decade, 22 student startups have been launched through the ICT Talent Development Project at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), including AI-based fashion design and text interpretation services. Student-led research and development (R&D) projects such as autonomous bicycles and earthquake observation and evacuation systems have also been carried out.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 11th that from 2011 to 2020, the POSTECH ICT Talent Development Project produced achievements including 1st author paper presentations at international academic conferences, 253 external awards for participating researchers, and 22 university startups.

At the project performance report meeting held at POSTECH on the same day, Kim Muhwan, President of POSTECH, Kang Bonggu, Director of the Future IT Convergence Research Institute, and Kwak Byungjin, Director of the Information and Communication Industry Infrastructure Division at the Ministry of Science and ICT, attended to encourage the achievements and discuss the direction of university education. Student researchers participated online (non-face-to-face) due to COVID-19.

The ICT Talent Development Project, supported annually with 3 billion KRW by the Ministry of Science and ICT, aims to nurture global leader-level ICT talents who solve future social problems and lead new technologies.

Student-led R&D achievements include the first domestic development of an autonomous bicycle in 2018, the development of an earthquake observation and evacuation system in 2018, and the development of software solutions to improve low-resolution CCTV video quality in 2019. There is also a case where an undergraduate student presented a first-author paper at the world’s top academic conference in the database field for the first time.

The university startup achievements total 22 cases, with one startup recognized for its business potential and attracting 4 billion KRW in investment. The AI-based text interpretation service developed by students has been used by over 200 organizations. External awards totaled 253, including one Presidential Award and 11 Ministerial Awards.

Kwak Byungjin, Director at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "The excellent ICT talents and research outcomes produced by POSTECH will serve as a foundation to elevate national competitiveness to the next level," adding, "The government will fully support the nurturing of outstanding talents so they can freely pursue and achieve their dreams."

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