Hankook & Company Group Launches 'AI Future Innovation Center' with KAIST

Name Changed from 'Digital Future Innovation Center'
to 'AI Future Innovation Center'

Hankook & Company Group announced on the 3rd that it held the signing ceremony for the 4th industry-academic cooperation agreement with KAIST for the establishment and operation of the 'AI Future Innovation Center'.

This agreement is significant in that it aims to strengthen the group's digital innovation strategy with a focus on AI and data, building on the achievements of the six-year partnership that began in 2019. To this end, the name of the previously established 'Digital Future Innovation Center', jointly founded by Hankook & Company Group and KAIST, has been changed to the 'AI Future Innovation Center'.

The signing ceremony, held on the morning of the previous day at the KAIST main campus faculty hall, was attended by key figures including Kim Sungjin, Executive Director of Digital Strategy at Hankook & Company, and Lee Kyunmin, Vice President for Academic Affairs at KAIST.

On the 2nd, representatives from Hankook & Company and KAIST attended the signing ceremony for the establishment of the AI Future Innovation Center held at the KAIST main campus faculty hall and took a commemorative photo. Photo by Hankook & Company

Under the leadership of Chairman Cho Hyunbum, Hankook & Company Group is pursuing a company-wide AI Innovation (AX) strategy. The partnership with KAIST is also a strategic move to strengthen the group's AI capabilities through collaboration with the nation's top university.

Through their cooperation in the previous three phases, the two parties have carried out a variety of AI proof-of-concept projects across manufacturing, design, quality, and supply chain management, including production scheduling and process optimization, tire performance prediction, and AI-based demand forecasting. In addition, they have supported practical experience sharing and the enhancement of AI utilization capabilities by operating industry-academic competitions and short-term dispatch programs involving both employees and graduate students.

Building on these achievements, the 4th phase 'AI Future Innovation Center' plans to further advance AI innovation in core areas such as research, production, and quality, while also actively pursuing research on new technologies and future mobility-related initiatives.

At the same time, the scope of AI application will be expanded across the entire value chain, including logistics, sales, and marketing. The group also plans to further enhance both the effectiveness and expertise in AI utilization through industry-academic competitions and intensive training programs for employees.

Executive Director Kim emphasized, "AI is no longer a choice but a core driver of corporate competitiveness. Through collaboration with KAIST, we will fundamentally elevate the AI capabilities of our group and employees."

Vice President Lee also stated, "Through this 4th phase agreement, I hope that both institutions will work even more closely together to lead the world in manufacturing innovation and industrial development."

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