KAIST Actively Promotes Establishment of Graduate School Specializing in Training 'Physician-Scientists'

President Lee Kwang-hyung Reveals at Press Conference on 15th Marking First Anniversary of Inauguration

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is actively pursuing the establishment of a Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Medicine to train 'physician-scientists.' It is also promoting the establishment of a New York campus for global talent development and international research collaboration, as well as a Pyeongtaek campus specialized in semiconductor workforce training.

On the 15th, KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee introduced achievements and key tasks to be pursued during his term at an online press conference commemorating his first anniversary in office.

KAIST is actively pushing for the establishment of the Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Medicine, a research-oriented medical graduate school, to train physician-scientists?specialized researchers equipped with medical knowledge, clinical experience, and basic science and R&D capabilities?in response to the recent surge in demand. This initiative is being actively reviewed by the government and ruling party as a solution to infectious disease response such as COVID-19 vaccine development, revitalization of the bio industry, and shortage of science and engineering talent.

President Lee emphasized, "We plan to first expand the currently operating Graduate School of Medical Science and then convert it into the Graduate School of Science and Technology around 2026," adding, "A research-oriented medical graduate school is an essential requirement to secure new national growth engines in the biomedical era." To this end, we will address tasks such as related law amendments, quota allocation, university establishment approval, and preliminary certification.

Regarding the New York campus, it is being actively promoted to extend the capabilities of enrolled students onto the global stage. President Lee stated, "Due to the COVID-19 situation, I have not been able to visit the U.S. in person, which has delayed progress," and added, "We will find partners on-site in the U.S. to collaborate and push forward as quickly as possible." The Pyeongtaek campus, an advanced convergence research hub leading the next-generation semiconductor field currently under construction, will also be expedited.

KAIST Holdings, launched last month, will fuse KAIST’s research capabilities with various sectors of society to discover planned startups and expand and grow lab-based startups utilizing research unit achievements. A KAIST Holdings North America corporation managing lab startups, U.S. technology holding companies, and intellectual property will also be established. The goal is to list 10 invested companies on KOSDAQ and 2 invested companies on NASDAQ by 2031, achieving a corporate value of 10 trillion KRW and royalty income of 100 billion KRW.

President Lee said, "At my inauguration a year ago, I said that the reason we have not become a world-class university is that our members have not yet set the intention to become one," adding, "My role is to present the grounds that KAIST can become the world’s best university and to instill confidence."

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