Hyundai Heavy Industries Group Partners with Seoul National University to Foster AI Talent

Signing of MOU to Establish Industry-Academia Cooperation System for AI Technology in Heavy Industries

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Hyundai Heavy Industries Group is taking a full-scale step to nurture future core talents based on AI (artificial intelligence) by partnering with Seoul National University to secure growth engines.

On the 2nd, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group and Seoul National University signed an 'Industry-Academia Cooperation MOU based on AI Application Technology in the Heavy Industry Sector' at the Seoul National University Administration Building located in Gwanak-gu, Seoul.

According to this MOU, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group and Seoul National University will carry out strategic industry-academia research projects for next-generation ship development and smart yard construction, jointly operate educational programs, and nurture AI talents.

First, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group decided to regularize joint research with professors from the College of Engineering, including the Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at Seoul National University. Through industry-academia projects such as autonomous navigation, eco-friendly, and high-efficiency ship development, the goal is to secure a specialized AI-based application technology unique to heavy industry, called the ‘AI+X solution,’ which integrates AI and manufacturing technology.

Hyundai Heavy Industries Group also plans to establish a collaboration space within the Global R&D Center, scheduled to be completed in 2022, open and jointly operate graduate-level courses, and conduct joint research. Additionally, incentives such as tuition support for applicants to the ‘Heavy Industry AI Course’ planned to open in the second half of 2022 and extra points during job application evaluations will be provided.

Through this MOU, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group will secure excellent research personnel responsible for the group's future in advance, and Seoul National University will be able to nurture talents specialized in the future technology field of AI through corporate support.

Kwon Oh-gap, Chairman of Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings, stated, "With the paradigm shift in the shipbuilding industry, securing talents related to future technologies has become a key issue that determines the group's competitiveness," adding, "We will focus all efforts on proactive AI technology development and talent nurturing to secure the group's super-gap capabilities."

Meanwhile, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group formed the ‘AI One Team’ last February together with KT, KAIST, and others to conduct joint AI research and technology development. Despite the shipbuilding industry downturn, it has been the only domestic shipbuilder to hire new employees every year since 2016, striving to discover and nurture talents in the shipbuilding industry.

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