Ministry of Science and ICT and Google DeepMind Partner on 'K-Moonshot'... AI Campus to Be Established in Korea

Background Hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT.

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The Ministry of Science and ICT is joining forces with Google DeepMind to advance the 'K-Moonshot' initiative and establish a collaborative framework for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI).

On April 27, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul-where the 2016 'Google DeepMind Challenge Match' between AlphaGo and Lee Sedol took place. The main areas of cooperation include joint scientific and technological AI research, AI talent development, and the responsible use of AI.

Google DeepMind is a global AI research organization that established a symbolic turning point in AI advancement with its Go AI AlphaGo, and proved the scientific applicability of AI with AlphaFold. Notably, thanks to AlphaFold's achievement in solving the longstanding challenge of protein structure prediction, CEO Demis Hassabis jointly received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024.

The Ministry of Science and ICT explained that this agreement, signed at the symbolic ten-year anniversary of the AlphaGo match, is significant as it aims to turn the accumulated AI achievements of the past decade into a driving force for scientific and technological innovation, and to expand global cooperation for the advancement of Korea's AI ecosystem and the responsible use of AI.

The Ministry is currently pursuing the 'K-Moonshot' project, which seeks to enhance research productivity and address national missions through AI-driven scientific and technological innovation. Through this MOU, the Ministry and Google DeepMind will explore practical cooperation across technology, infrastructure, and researcher exchanges.

The two organizations will collaborate across various scientific fields, including life sciences, meteorology and climate, and AI scientists. They plan to activate joint research and researcher exchanges centered on the National Science AI Research Center, which is scheduled to begin operations in May 2026. In addition, they will pursue cooperation focused on AI model and tool development and validation, utilization of scientific data, and the establishment of AI bio-innovation research hubs.

Furthermore, opportunities for internships will be developed so that Korea’s outstanding AI talent can experience Google DeepMind’s research environment firsthand. To support this, Google will establish an AI campus in Korea and significantly expand collaboration with academia, researchers, and startups. This AI campus, in conjunction with 'K-Moonshot,' will serve as a hub for AI-based scientific and technological cooperation with Google DeepMind.

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The two sides will also cooperate in the fields of AI safety and governance. To ensure the responsible development of AI technology, they will promote joint research on safety frameworks and safety mechanisms for AI models. In particular, they plan to continue discussions on establishing safety frameworks and test methodologies, in connection with the AI Safety Research Institute, which is responsible for AI safety assessment and research in response to AI risks. They will also continue to discuss ways to create and collaborate on a global AI hub within Korea to address challenges facing humanity.

Deputy Prime Minister Bae stated, "If AlphaGo opened the era of AI ten years ago, we are now at a stage where AI is solving complex scientific and technological challenges and making a tangible impact on people's lives. The MOU signed today will serve as a critical starting point for Korea to accelerate AI innovation in science and technology around the 'K-Moonshot' initiative, while both organizations work together to advance safe and responsible AI research and best practices."

Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, emphasized, "Since the historic AlphaGo match that marked the beginning of the modern AI era, Korea has become a place of special significance for Google. We intend to build on this precious legacy by embarking on a new journey to expand the horizons of bio-innovation and weather prediction, while also partnering to establish safeguards that ensure the responsible development of AI."

Following the MOU signing ceremony, the two organizations held a roundtable with AI experts. Participants included Professor Chaok Seok of Seoul National University and Professor Wooyeon Kim of KAIST, both experts in bio and new drug development; Director Yonggyun Yoo of the National Science AI Research Center; and Haeon Park, CTO of Aim Intelligence and an expert in AI safety. They exchanged views on accelerating AI-based scientific discovery and collaboration with DeepMind.

To ensure the practical implementation of this agreement, the two sides will form a joint working group and will continue to discuss detailed cooperation plans and initiatives through quarterly virtual meetings and annual in-person meetings.

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