Ulsan Industry Launches 'AX Engine'... UNIST Successfully Hosts 'AI Innovation Day'

'AI Novatus' Trains 400 Employees from 266 Companies, Youth Gain Practical Internship Experience
UNIST Pioneers Campus Serves as a Hub for New Industry Development and Startup Promotion

The drive for a major AI transformation (AX) to fundamentally improve Ulsan's industrial landscape is gaining momentum.

On November 12, UNIST (President Park Jongrae) held the 'AI Innovation Day' at the Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center (UECO), sharing the achievements of digital transformation (DX) in the local industry.

Experience exhibition booth of the Ulsan World Future Industry Expo (WAVE 2025) operated by UNIST AI Innovation Park.

This event was organized to highlight the changes in the corporate field and the outcomes of talent development brought about by UNIST's AI education, while also presenting a vision for innovation in Ulsan's industrial landscape.

The event was hosted by the UNIST Pioneers Campus. Held in conjunction with the Ulsan World Future Industry Expo (WAVE 2025), it further fueled the enthusiasm for AI in the region. More than 100 participants from industry, academia, research institutes, and the student body gathered to share their experiences and ideas.

Since its launch in 2021, the Pioneers Campus has established itself as a regional AI hub, encompassing education, research, and startup support.

In his welcome address, Byungki Seo, Director of U Future Strategy Institute, stated, "UNIST is the core platform driving the AI transformation (AX) of local industries and fostering new industries," adding, "I hope this gathering of industry, academia, and research will serve as a catalyst to elevate the industrial ecosystem in Ulsan and the southeastern region to the next level."

Byungki Seo, Director of U Future Strategy Institute, is delivering the welcoming speech at the UNIST 'AI Innovation Day' event. Photo by UNIST

The event also showcased the expansion of Pioneers Campus achievements throughout the region. Presentations included the AI Novatus Academia, AI proof-of-concept results from resident companies, AI+X industry-academia joint research, AI study group startup cases, and the outcomes of AI internship projects.

The passion of the younger generation for AI innovation was also evident. Startup teams from AI study groups and students participating in internships took turns presenting their achievements, emerging as key agents of change in the field. Their activities demonstrated that digital transformation and the spread of AI are being realized across various sectors of the local industry.

During the subsequent awards ceremony, the 'AI Innovation Award' was presented to a team that demonstrated entrepreneurial capability through creative ideas, while the 'Best Internship Award' was given to a student who successfully completed practical tasks such as data analysis and model development in an industrial setting. This highlighted how students stepping beyond the laboratory and into the field are driving AI innovation in the region’s industries.

UNIST is connecting student-centered startup and internship programs with local industries. Aiming to solve real-world industrial problems and discover new industries, students are equipped to use AI technology as a tool to lead industrial change.

President Park Jongrae stated, "The UNIST Pioneers Campus has grown into an AI industry-academia cooperation hub for Ulsan and the southeastern region," adding, "Through education, research, and startup support, we are enhancing the competitiveness of local industries and creating new ones."

The flagship program, 'AI Novatus Academia,' also stood out. Through this course, more than 400 employees from 266 companies-including HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and Korea Zinc-completed their training. Graduates expressed high satisfaction, noting that the AI education improved their problem-solving abilities in the field. Companies also reported that AX training enhanced productivity and efficiency.

Building on this foundation, UNIST plans to expand tailored, industry-specific AI practical training and strengthen support to help local small and medium-sized enterprises adopt AI technology with ease.

From November 12 for three days, the UNIST Pioneers Campus is operating a technology experience exhibition booth at the Ulsan World Future Industry Expo (WAVE 2025).

This booth features AI education and research programs focused on industrial sites, the Novatus Graduate School, and research achievements from resident companies and faculty members.

In particular, the booth showcases a variety of prototypes and demo videos implemented in real industrial settings, including Professor Heeseung Lee's lab's mobility and robotics exhibits, CoreDotToday’s AI travel recommendation service, and CrescAI’s mobile automated welding tracking device.

Through this expo, UNIST aims to widely promote its AI research capabilities and industrial application achievements, further solidifying the foundation for sustainable industry-academia cooperation and the development of a new industrial ecosystem.

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