Gyeongnam National University and Gyeongsang National University Join Forces to Tackle Future Industries in Southeastern Region

On April 24, Gyeongnam National University signed a business agreement with Gyeongsang National University in the International Seminar Room of its main building to jointly respond to the future industries of the southeastern region and to strengthen competitiveness in education, research, and industry-academia cooperation.

Officials from Gyeongnam National University and Gyeongsang National University are posing for a commemorative photo. [Photo by Gyeongnam National University]

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This agreement was established so that the two universities could build an organic cooperation system, promote the development of manufacturing AI and strategic regional industries, and jointly address the challenges of overcoming the regional extinction crisis and achieving balanced national development. In particular, the fact that the leading private university and the flagship national university in the Gyeongnam region have joined hands is being highlighted as a model case for cooperation in higher education in the region.

Through the agreement, the two universities will cooperate in the following areas: ▲ joint education, talent development, and research collaboration to respond to future strategic industries and regional innovation; ▲ collaborative education, research, and demonstration in the fields of manufacturing AI, AX, and university specialization; ▲ building an inter-university connection and cooperation system for ultra-wide-area regional innovation and balanced national development; and ▲ collaboration in industry-academia cooperation, technology commercialization, and vitalization of the regional startup ecosystem.

Gyeongnam National University operates the region’s first AI·SW Convergence Graduate School, and, through organizations such as the Gyeongnam Intelligence Innovation Business Group and the Global Joint Research Center for Hyper-scale Manufacturing AI, is strengthening its research and talent development in manufacturing AI and physical AI, accelerating the cultivation of field-ready professionals in connection with local industries.

Additionally, based on the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Innovation Talent Development Project, the university plans to nurture advanced talent in physical AI convergence over the next six years, and will further advance its educational system by expanding and reorganizing the AI·SW Convergence Graduate School, as well as establishing new departments such as the Department of Physical AI Systems Convergence and the Department of AI Convergence.

Gyeongsang National University, leveraging the Glocal University Project and the Gyeongnam Aerospace Defense Science and Technology Institute (GADIST), is working to specialize in the aerospace and defense sectors and to establish itself as a hub for AI education and research. This agreement is being evaluated as a structure that combines Gyeongnam National University's manufacturing AI and physical AI capabilities with Gyeongsang National University's specialization in aerospace and defense.

Going forward, the two universities plan to expand joint research, demonstration, professional talent development, and technology commercialization cooperation in the southeastern region's strategic industries, including manufacturing AI, AX, aerospace, and defense, thereby advancing regional industries and creating youth-focused, locally-rooted jobs.

Hong Jeonghyo, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Gyeongnam National University, stated, "Gyeongnam National University has accumulated an education and research model most closely connected to local industrial sites, based on manufacturing AI, physical AI, AI education for employees, and industry-academia cooperation projects. With this agreement, we will accelerate joint research and talent development to lead the future industries of the southeastern region together with Gyeongsang National University."

Kim Bongjo, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Gyeongsang National University, remarked, "Through this agreement, we will combine the research capabilities and educational infrastructure of both universities to make a practical contribution to the development of southeastern industries and the cultivation of local talent."

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