Campus/People
-
KAIST to Showcase Noise Reduction and Robotics Technologies at 2026 Tech Fair
Technologies that reduce noise using thin, lightweight structures, make wireless charging devices lighter, and enable robots to navigate and perform tasks autonomously will be on display at the 2026 KAIST Tech Fair. The event will give companies an opportunity to explore technologies developed in KAIST laboratories and discuss potential applications in their products and manufacturing processes directly with the researchers.
KAIST announced on October 12 that it will hold the 2026 KAIST Tech Fair on October 13 in conjunction with KES 2026 (Korea Electronics Show) at COEX in Seoul. The event will showcase six technologies with strong commercial potential, alongside products and services from four faculty-founded startups, and offer consultations on technology transfer and joint research.
“KAIST’s vision of ‘Beyond Laboratory’ is about ensuring that outstanding research outcomes extend beyond the laboratory to create real value for industry and society,” said KAIST President Choongsik Bae. “We hope this year’s Tech Fair will connect KAIST’s innovative technologies with industry needs and lead to tangible partnerships in technology transfer and joint research that create new value for industry.”
KAIST will operate the KAIST Special Pavilion in Hall A at COEX from October 13 to 16. Industry representatives and other visitors will be able to explore the technologies and the faculty-founded startups’ products and services, as well as learn about KAIST’s support programs for technology commercialization.
A technology transfer briefing will take place on October 13, starting at 1:30 p.m., on the KES Stage in Hall B. KAIST researchers will present six technologies and explain their potential industrial applications and prospects for commercialization:
• Noise reduction technology that uses thin, lightweight structures to reduce noise and vibration (Professor Wonju Jeon, Department of Mechanical Engineering).
• Autonomous robotics technology that enables a robot to use its robotic arm to push obstacles out of the way and continue along its path (Professor Sung-Eui Yoon, School of Computing).
• Wireless charging component design technology that makes wireless charging devices lighter and more efficient (Dr. Changwoo Lee, Professor In Gwun Jang’s laboratory, Cho Chun Shik Graduate School of Mobility).
• Precision optical imaging technology that uses light to capture clear three-dimensional images within tissue over an extended depth range (Professor Hongki Yoo, Department of Mechanical Engineering).
• Antibacterial metal filter technology that allows filters to be washed and reused multiple times (Professor Sanha Kim, Department of Mechanical Engineering).
• Multicolor reflective material technology that uses microscopic dome-shaped structures to reflect light and produce a variety of colors and images (Professor Shin-Hyun Kim, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering).
Each presentation will include a 15-minute overview followed by a five-minute Q&A session. Industry representatives will be able to ask researchers how the technologies work, what sets them apart from existing approaches, and how they might be applied to their own products or processes.
One-on-one technology transfer consultations will also be held at the KES Lounge in Hall B. KAIST will match companies that register in advance with researchers to discuss technology adoption, joint research, further development and commercialization.
Four faculty-founded startups will exhibit at the KAIST Special Pavilion, showcasing their main products and technologies and meeting with companies, investors and other industry representatives.
DAIM Technology will present simulation technology for unmanned factories and autonomous manufacturing, along with systems for coordinating and controlling multiple robots. MilliTrack will showcase precision location tracking and spatial recognition solutions for industrial environments.
A2US will introduce air and water purification solutions based on technology that uses electricity to disperse water into fine droplets. Hypergram will showcase an industrial inspection solution combining AI with hyperspectral imaging, which analyzes light across a broad range of wavelengths. The solution detects contamination and surface defects that are difficult to identify with conventional cameras or the naked eye.
In addition to the faculty startup zone, the pavilion will feature an area showcasing technologies with commercial potential, an information area for the KAIST Office of Technology Value Creation, and a Brand KAIST area. Together, these exhibits will illustrate KAIST’s approach to technology commercialization, from identifying promising research outcomes and securing intellectual property rights to technology transfer, startup creation and further commercialization.
The KAIST Special Pavilion will also be a stop on the official KES VIP tour, providing an opportunity to introduce KAIST’s research outcomes and faculty-founded startups to representatives of major institutions and industries from Korea and around the world.
KAIST will support companies in taking the next steps after the event, helping turn discussions with researchers into technology transfer agreements, joint research and other forms of collaboration. It also plans to generate greater industrial and economic value from its research by tailoring technology marketing to industry needs and strengthening the links between technology transfer and startup creation.
Companies interested in attending the briefing or requesting a consultation can register in advance through the KAIST TLO website. For inquiries about the event or participation, please contact the KAIST Office of Technology Value Creation.
Registration: KAIST TLO website https://tlo.kaist.ac.kr/
Contact: KAIST Office of Technology Value Creation
Tel: +82-42-350-2978
Email: iptc@kaist.ac.kr
2026.10.12 View 210 -
KAIST to Chart a Platform-FirstCourse for “Physical AI” Beyond Humanoids
KAIST (President Choongsik Bae) announced on October 11 that it will host “Physical AI KOREA 2026” at its Daejeon campus on October 13. At the event, KAIST plans to present physical AI platform technologies that can be applied not only to manufacturing but also to healthcare, defense, logistics, and everyday life, as well as strategies for research, education, and entrepreneurship that can be utilized by a wide range of companies.
Humanoid robots are beginning to surpass human records in robotic competitions modeled after Olympic events such as track and field, and pilot applications have also begun at some manufacturing sites. Expectations for physical AI are growing, but KAIST’s vision extends beyond stadiums and selected factories. KAIST will announce a vision to expand physical AI into technologies used across diverse industries and everyday life and develop it into a future industry for Korea.
President Choongsik Bae will emphasize that “the key competition in physical AI is not about how closely robots resemble humans, but about how widely we can deploy AI that understands and moves within the physical world across diverse environments,” adding, “True to its reputation for strong fundamentals, KAIST will build foundational technologies for sensing, movement, and cooperation among multiple machines so that they can be used across a wide range of robots and industries. We will also foster the talent and companies that will lead this field.”
On the day of the event, President Bae is scheduled to appear on stage wearing a wearable robot developed by Professor Kyoungchul Kong’s research team and demonstrate the analysis of movement data measured by the robot. This will serve as an example of how physical AI can also be used to understand human movement and health.
The wearable robot developed by Professor Kong's research team has primarily been studied as a technology for rehabilitation therapy and for helping people with disabilities walk. When combined with physical AI technology, the robot could be used not only as a walking-assistance device but also as a sensing device that monitors a person's movement. President Bae's demonstration will show KAIST's vision that physical AI can extend beyond manufacturing and industrial robots into people's health and daily lives.
The event will open with a video tracing the development of robotics research at KAIST, followed by an overview of global trends in physical AI technology. Starting at 1:30 p.m., the program will feature presentations on platform technologies and demonstrations of robots such as humanoids and a robot pilot. Speakers will then address the challenges of industrializing physical AI and the role KAIST can play, and at 2:15 p.m., President Bae will announce a vision for building a physical AI industrial ecosystem in Korea. The event will also include a joint Q&A session with the presenters and media interviews.
The event will go beyond the question of “what kind of robot should we build” and present KAIST’s answer to “what technologies are commonly needed across different robots and industries.” KAIST plans to connect its accumulated research capabilities in robotics, artificial intelligence, sensors, actuators, and data to present a technological framework for physical AI and identify areas of future focus.
At the center of this framework are perceptual intelligence, which enables machines to “sense” the physical world; motor intelligence, which allows them to “move” appropriately according to the situation; and collective intelligence, which enables multiple robots and systems to “make decisions and act together.” Humanoids are one important form through which these capabilities can be realized, but KAIST does not limit the scope of physical AI to humanoids.
Perceptual intelligence is technology that measures physical signals such as force, movement, and position, allowing AI to understand its surroundings and the condition of people. Motor intelligence uses this information to generate movements appropriate to the situation, such as walking or grasping objects. Collective intelligence allows multiple robots and sensors to share information and make decisions and take actions together.
Rather than concentrating its capabilities on perfecting a single specific robot, KAIST plans to secure platform technologies that can be commonly used across multiple robots and industries. Key platform technologies include actuators that move robots with precision; technologies that measure and process physical data from the real world; data center technologies that manage and operate large-scale data; motor intelligence that autonomously generates movement; and sensory intelligence that understands surrounding environments and people.
The event will also showcase a variety of implementation examples. Professor Hae-Won Park's research team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering will introduce a humanoid robot capable of carrying objects weighing more than 15 kg. Professor Hyunchul Shim's research team in the School of Electrical Engineering will demonstrate PIBOT, a humanoid robot pilot that can operate an aircraft, showing the potential for applications in specialized work environments.
Professor Hyun Myung's research team, also in the School of Electrical Engineering, will introduce autonomous navigation technology that uses cameras and LiDAR to recognize unfamiliar spaces and determine the robot's own position and path. Professor Hyeon-Min Bae's research team in the same school will present technology that combines motors, sensors, and control systems to move robots with precision. Professor Kyoungchul Kong's research team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering will introduce wearable robot technology that identifies the user's intended movements and assists walking. Together, the work of these five research teams shows how the technologies robots need to perceive their surroundings, generate force and movement, and carry out real tasks connect with one another.
Connecting technologies developed in the laboratory to industry is another major pillar of the vision. KAIST faculty startups including Angel Robotics and Raion Robotics are working to develop related technologies into platforms and apply them in real-world environments. President Bae is expected to outline a strategy that connects the university’s foundational technology research with product development by faculty startups so that physical AI platform technologies can be utilized across a wide range of settings.
KAIST is also continuing collaborative research on physical AI that understands human movement. Professors Jung Kim and Kyoungchul Kong serve as co-directors of the Human Physical AI Research Center, which is pursuing related research through collaboration with the NVIDIA AI Technology Center (NVAITC).
Alongside technology development, KAIST also plans to build an ecosystem linking talent development, entrepreneurship, and industrial expansion. It will support education and laboratory-based startups for students and young researchers while expanding retraining programs for personnel working in industry. The goal is to ensure that research outcomes do not remain limited to individual experiments but lead to corporate technology development and real-world applications.
KAIST plans to continue hosting “Physical AI KOREA” to share progress in technology development and remaining challenges and to develop the event into a platform for collaboration between researchers and companies.
The event is open to all members of the public who are interested. Those who wish to attend should register in advance through the online registration page ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwirZfcNDBxEZogWqpDVgfBKslVRwHuQ-s-2fWtCBZYOTuUQ/viewform). Registration is open until 12 p.m. (KST) on October 12. Because seating is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, registration may close earlier.
2026.10.12 View 339 -
KAIST Launches Korea's First Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) Research Institute
Moving beyond today’s AI, which excels at solving problems similar to those encountered during training, KAIST has launched a dedicated research institute to develop foundational technologies for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) that can make decisions and adapt independently when faced with unfamiliar problems and environments.
KAIST announced that it officially launched the AGI Research Institute under the KAIST AI Research Institute (AIRI) on September 18, following the completion of internal approval procedures.
The research team initially comprises 11 professors: Kim Tae-Kyun (T-K), Kim Hyunwoo, and Oh Tae-Hyun (School of Computing); Sung Minhyuk (Department of AI Computing); Shin Jinwoo and Ye Jong Chul (Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI); Kim Junmo and Chung Joon Son (Department of Electrical Engineering); Ahn Sungjin (Department of AI Computing); and Park Noseong and Yoon Sung-Eui (School of Computing). Professor Kim Tae-Kyun (T-K) of the School of Computing was appointed as the institute’s inaugural director, with plans to gradually expand the team.
The AGI Research Institute has been established with the mission of advancing the science and engineering of AGI through fundamental research and returning the benefits to society. Its core research focus is “generalization”—the ability of AI to apply learned knowledge to previously unseen tasks, environments, and data domains.
While current AI systems have achieved remarkable results through the scaling of data and computational power, they still struggle to learn and reason beyond their learnt domains. They perform well on problems similar to their training data, but their performance can decline when conditions or environments change.
The institute plans to move beyond simply scaling data and computing resources by developing foundational technologies that enable AI to reason about previously unseen problems and adapt to new environments, even with limited resources.
To this end, the institute will investigate the fundamental principles of AI through research into novel and efficient neural network architectures, learning principles, understanding the physical world, and the implementation of intelligence. It will also cultivate the next generation of research leaders.
The institute’s key research areas include:
• Efficient Foundation Models: Achieving high performance with less computation.
• Novel Knowledge Discovery (AI Meta-Scientist): Enabling AI to generate its own hypotheses and discover new knowledge.
• World Understanding: Developing world models that understand the structure and dynamics of the physical world and predict the future.
• Physical AI: Enabling embodied systems, such as robots, to perceive and act within real-world environments.
• AI Safety: Ensuring that AI remains aligned with human intent.
In Efficient Foundation Models, the institute will develop neural network architectures and learning methods that go beyond Transformers, with the aim of enabling AGI even in resource-constrained environments. In AI Meta-Scientist research, it will develop AI systems that go beyond exploring existing knowledge to generate their own hypotheses, conduct scientific research, and discover new knowledge.
By integrating these interconnected research areas into a single research institute, KAIST aims to establish itself as a global hub for AGI research.
Director Kim Tae-Kyun said, “There are limits to how far AI can advance simply by continuing to expand AI data centers.” He added, “Sustained efforts to develop foundational AI technologies that can adapt to new problems even in resource-constrained environments will be critical to staying competitive in the next generation of AI.”
The institute will pursue its research through national R&D projects supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Funding includes a total of KRW 10 billion over five years for the development of lightweight, low-power next-generation neural network architectures and KRW 18.75 billion over five years for AI Meta-Scientist research. The institute is also participating in a project led by LG Electronics to develop world models and robotics-based Physical AI technologies. That project has a total budget of KRW 34 billion over two years. In addition, the institute is conducting research on physically grounded intelligence.
Choi Sung-Yool, Vice President of Research at KAIST, remarked, “I expect KAIST’s outstanding AI research teams to make significant contributions to developing core next-generation AGI technologies that lead the way toward sustainable human development.”
Hong Jin-bae, President of IITP, stated, “As creative ideas and challenging research drive AI technological innovation, I look forward to the new AGI research institute becoming a hub of innovation that unlocks new possibilities for the future of artificial intelligence.”
2026.09.22 View 1575 -
KAIST Names Former Samsung Electronics Chairman and CEO Oh Hyun Kwon as Chair of Its Board of Trustees
KAIST announced that its Board of Trustees elected Oh Hyun Kwon, former Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics and Chairman of the Orange Planet startup foundation, as its new chair at the board’s 298th extraordinary meeting in Seoul on September 21, 2026. Prior to the election, Kichul Cha, a KAIST trustee and CEO of InBody, had served as acting chair since the term of former Chair Myung Ja Kim ended in late June.
Kwon earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Seoul National University in 1975, a master’s degree in the same field from KAIST in 1977, and a doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1985. He joined Samsung in 1985 as a researcher at its Semiconductor Research Institute in the United States. In 1992, he led the development of the world’s first 64Mb DRAM, helping lay the foundation for Samsung’s strategy of building a decisive technological lead over its competitors.
An engineer who rose through the ranks to become a leading business executive, Kwon served as President and Head of Device Solutions Division, Samsung Electronics from 2008 to 2011 and as Vice Chairman and CEO from 2012 to 2017. From 2017 to 2020, he held the positions of Chairman at both Samsung Electronics and the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology. He is credited with helping propel South Korea's semiconductor industry to global leadership.
After stepping back from corporate management, Kwon served as President of the Korea Invention Promotion Association from 2021 to 2022 and as the seventh Chair of Seoul National University’s Board of Trustees from 2023 to 2025. In September 2025, he became the first business executive to chair the Committee on Mid- to Long-Term Strategy Committee, now under the Ministry of Planning and Budget (then called the Ministry of Economy and Finance). He has also chaired Orange Planet since 2021, supporting young entrepreneurs.
His honors include the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit in 2009, the Korea Best Scientist and Engineer Award in 2014, the Inchon Award in Industrial Technology category in 2012, and the Dasan Technology Award in 1997. He is also the author of Super Gap (2018) and Again, Super Gap (2020).
Kwon has maintained close ties with his alma mater, KAIST. In 2018, for instance, he became the first KAIST alumnus to receive an honorary doctorate from the university, earning the distinction in business administration. He also helped establish the Kwon Oh Hyun Assistant Professor program, which provides annual support for promising faculty members pursuing creative and ambitious research in physics, mathematics, chemistry, biological sciences, and engineering.
Kwon joined the KAIST Board of Trustees at its 297th extraordinary meeting in August before being elected chair at the September meeting.
His term as chair runs from September 21, 2026, the date of the board resolution, through August 19, 2029, when his term as a trustee expires. Drawing on his experience in building Samsung’s technological leadership, Kwon is expected to help KAIST advance innovation in research and education and further strengthen its global competitiveness.(END)
2026.09.22 View 2909 -
AI Takes the Wheel in 'Mario Kart' as Students Use Generative AI in Eight-Hour Hacking Contest
AI will take the wheel in "Mario Kart," while students use generative AI tools to tackle an eight-hour hacking contest, as KAIST and POSTECH bring their scientific rivalry to the playing field.
KAIST (President Choongsik Bae) and POSTECH (President Seong Keun Kim) announced on September 18 that the 23rd KAIST-POSTECH Science War, also known as the "KA-PO War," will take place at POSTECH on September 18 and 19.
First held in 2002, the annual event brings students from both universities together for scientific competitions, sports matches, and performances. The two universities take turns hosting the event in Daejeon and Pohang. Following convention, the visiting university's name comes first in the event title, making this year's edition the "KA-PO War." The name "Science War" reflects the event's distinctive combination of technical challenges and athletic competitions.
This year's games feature seven events. The four sports events are baseball, soccer, basketball, and esports matches featuring "League of Legends", while the three science events are a hacking competition, an AI competition, and a science quiz.
This year's science events highlight current technology trends, incorporating generative AI and concepts from autonomous driving into the competitions.
The hacking competition will run for eight hours, from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the first day. The competition will present information security challenges, including cryptography problems, in rounds, with participants earning points for solving them within the allotted time. The use of generative AI tools is fully permitted. A screen will display live scores and participants' progress solving the challenges so spectators can follow the action.
Also beginning at 2:00 p.m. on the first day, the AI competition will take place at the POSTECH eSports Colosseum. AI programs developed and trained by students from both universities will control karts in the popular racing game "Mario Kart Wii" and compete head-to-head. With the AI used to drive the karts without human input, the event serves as a virtual autonomous driving competition.
Scores across four courses will determine the winner of each round. The first team to win two of three rounds will win the match.
The science quiz will begin at 2:00 p.m. on the second day on the stage in front of POSPLEX, combining questions on general science and recent research trends with 'rock-paper-scissors chess,' a chess variant that tests strategic thinking and teamwork alongside scientific knowledge.
The university that wins at least four of the seven events will be crowned this year's overall champion. KAIST currently leads the all-time standings with 13 overall victories to POSTECH's eight.
"We hope this year's KA-PO War goes beyond a friendly exchange to become a special festival where students from Korea's two leading science and technology universities compete fiercely with their pride on the line, while sharing laughter and enjoying themselves together," said Dong-hyeok Lee, chair of the KA-PO War organizing committee and a student in KAIST's Department of Materials Science and Engineering who entered KAIST in 2024.
"The KA-PO War is more than a competition to determine winners and losers. It is a special festival where KAIST and POSTECH students share their passion and talents through science and sports," said KAIST President Choongsik Bae. He added that he hopes the event inspires students to take pride in their role as future leaders of Korean science and technology and gives them a valuable opportunity to learn from one another and grow together through competition.
2026.09.18 View 1354 -
KAIST and LOTTE Open ‘LOTTE x KAIST R&D CENTER’ to Advance a Sustainable Future
KAIST and LOTTE have opened a new research hub that brings academia and industry together to address pressing sustainability challenges, including climate change and carbon neutrality. The center will support collaboration between the university and the company throughout the innovation process, from research and development to commercialization.
KAIST (President Choongsik Bae) announced on September 13 that it had held an opening ceremony for the LOTTE x KAIST R&D CENTER at its main campus in Daejeon on August 11. Attendees included LOTTE Group Chairman Dongbin Shin, executives and representatives from LOTTE Group, senior KAIST administrators, and faculty and staff from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
The center was established with KRW 10 billion, approximately USD 7.5 million, in construction funding donated by LOTTE Group, along with funds raised by the KAIST Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. It will serve as a hub for collaborations between academia and industry across the entire R&D cycle, from basic and foundational research in emerging technologies to experimentation, prototyping, and commercialization.
By bringing KAIST’s research capabilities and LOTTE’s industrial expertise and commercialization experience together under one roof, the center introduces a new model of collaboration that goes beyond conventional partnerships between academia and industry. Rather than simply exchanging research findings, the two organizations will jointly identify and investigate future challenges and translate the resulting discoveries into industrial applications and commercial opportunities.
The initiative is closely aligned with President Bae’s “Beyond Laboratory” strategy. KAIST is expanding joint research in which companies participate from the earliest stages of defining problems, helping ensure that discoveries move beyond laboratories and academic papers to create meaningful change in industry and society. The university is also strengthening an innovation ecosystem that connects basic and foundational research with demonstration and commercialization.
The partnership between KAIST and LOTTE spans more than a decade. Since 2012, KAIST has offered commissioned master’s and doctoral programs for LOTTE employees. The two organizations have also expanded their cooperation in research and education through technology transfer and personnel exchanges involving LOTTE Chemical. In 2022, they established the LOTTE Chemical - KAIST Carbon Neutral Research Center to secure core technologies and cultivate highly skilled professionals for the transition to carbon neutrality.
Building on more than a decade of partnership and mutual trust, the new LOTTE x KAIST R&D CENTER expands the relationship through shared research infrastructure supporting collaborative research, future technology development, and commercialization.
The building has six floors above ground and one basement level, with a total floor area of approximately 4,298 square meters. Its open laboratories and collaborative spaces are designed to encourage researchers to work together and exchange ideas freely across disciplines and organizational boundaries.
Research at the center will focus on three areas, all united by the shared goal of creating a sustainable future.
The first area, Bio Sustainability, will apply systems metabolic engineering to develop sustainable biotechnology solutions, including biofuels and bioplastics that can replace conventional fossil resources.
The second area, Carbon Neutral Energy, Materials, and Processes, will focus on core technologies needed for a carbon neutral society, including green hydrogen, renewable energy, batteries, advanced materials, and industrial processes.
The third area, Advanced Food and Healthcare, will explore emerging technologies in future foods and health care to develop new solutions for a healthier and more sustainable society.
Artificial intelligence will be integrated throughout the center’s research to accelerate the discovery of new materials and technologies, and improve the speed and efficiency of R&D. Through this approach, the center will extend KAIST’s “AI Native Campus” strategy into practical research settings.
In addition to shared research facilities for LOTTE and KAIST researchers, the center houses Shin Dongbin Hall, a venue dedicated to communication and exchange among researchers. KAIST plans to use the center as a home base for expanding an open innovation ecosystem in which academic researchers and industry partners work together at every stage, from identifying problems and conducting R&D to demonstration and commercialization.
Congratulating KAIST on the completion of the center, LOTTE Group Chairman Shin Dongbin said, “I hope the R&D center will become a hub for collaboration between industry and academia, transcending the boundaries between universities and businesses and unlocking even greater possibilities. LOTTE will remain a steadfast partner, empowering faculty and students to pursue bold ideas, take on new challenges, and conduct research without the fear of failure.”
KAIST President Choongsik Bae said, “I am deeply grateful to LOTTE for its longstanding support of KAIST’s education and research, and for its continued partnership. Today marks not only the completion of a building, but the beginning of a new chapter in our collaboration. By combining KAIST’s research excellence with LOTTE’s industrial and commercialization capabilities, we will turn ideas and technologies born in the laboratory into tangible value in the marketplace. Together, we will create new engines of growth for Korea and develop solutions for a sustainable future.”
2026.09.14 View 1609 -
KAIST Professor Sunkyu Han Becomes the First Korean Member of the Board of Editors of Organic Syntheses
For more than a century, Organic Syntheses has served as a unique platform beyond conventional peer reviewed journal: before publishing a procedure, its editors personally repeat the experiment in their laboratory to confirm that another chemist's submitted method actually works as reported. Professor Sunkyu Han from KAIST’s Department of Chemistry has now become the first Korean chemist elected as a member of the Board of Editors of Organic Syntheses.
KAIST (President Choongsik Bae) announced on September 11 that Professor Han has been elected as a member of the Board of Editors of Organic Syntheses at the Organic Syntheses corporate meeting, held in Chicago on August 23.
During his five-year term, Professor Han will participate to identify, solicit, and select work for publication in Organic Syntheses. He will also check synthetic procedures submitted by other researchers in his own laboratory to experimentally confirm their reliability and reproducilibity. His term may be extended for up to three additional years.
Founded in 1921, Organic Syntheses follows a publishing model unlike that of most academic journals. A synthetic procedure is published only after the member of the Board of Editors has successfully reproduced it in their laboratory and confirmed the submitted results. The journal is currently led by Editor-in-Chief Professor Rick Danheiser from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Because each procedure undergoes rigorous experimental scrutiny, including the checking of its yield, selectivity, and purification process, the methods published in Organic Syntheses are widely regarded as trusted reference protocols by organic chemists around the world.
The role of a member of the Board of Editors of Organic Syntheses therefore extends well beyond conventional editors. Editors must check other researchers’ procedures and attest to their reliability, a responsibility requiring exceptional scientific judgment and experimental rigor. Over the journal’s history, many of the world’s most distinguished organic chemists have served in this capacity.
The Board of Editors currently comprises 14 members, including the Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editors, and has traditionally included two chemists based in Asia. Distinguished scholars from Japan, China, and Hong Kong have served on the board, among them Ryoji Noyori, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Professor Han, however, is the first Korean chemist elected as a member of the Board of Editors. He will succeed Professor Pauline Chiu of the University of Hong Kong, whose term concludes later this year.
“Professor Sunkyu Han’s election as the first Korean member of the Board of Editors is a significant achievement that reflects both KAIST’s strength in basic science and the growing international stature of Korean organic chemistry,” said KAIST President Choongsik Bae. “KAIST will continue to support its researchers not only for making outstanding discoveries, but also in strengthening the reliability and advancing the frontiers of knowledge across the global academic community.”
Since its founding, Organic Syntheses has published approximately 3,100 articles. Among them, nine have been contributed by organic chemists based in Korea, four of them by KAIST faculty members.
Professor Han’s appointment will also enable KAIST’s Department of Chemistry to host the Organic Syntheses Distinguished Lecture Series during his tenure. Sponsored by Organic Syntheses, Inc., the program will bring internationally renowned organic chemists to KAIST, creating more opportunities for students and early-career researchers to engage directly with leading scholars in the field.
Professor Han is internationally recognized for his work on the chemical synthesis of complex natural products. Since joining KAIST in 2014, he has completed the synthesis of numerous structurally complex alkaloids isolated from Securinega suffruticosa, a medicinal plant native to Korea.
Recently, he has built on this expertise to expand his research into molecular photoswitches, which use light to control molecular structure and function. He is also developing anticancer agents and potential treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, using synthetic derivatives of natural products.
Since June 2025, Professor Han has also served as an Associate Editor of Organic Letters, another leading international journal in the field of organic chemistry.
“Ever since I was a student, I have relied on reactions and procedures published in Organic Syntheses and felt a profound sense of gratitude toward the chemists who personally checked those procedures and turned them into methods the broader community could trust. I have been given this opportunity thanks to everything I have learned while working alongside outstanding group members and colleagues at KAIST. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout that journey, as well as to the university,” said Professor Han.
He added, “I hope to follow in the footsteps of the eminent chemists who helped shape the foundation of modern organic chemistry, including Roger Adams, George Büchi, Arthur Cope, Albert Eschenmoser, Ronald Breslow, and E. J. Corey. By faithfully and diligently carrying out my responsibilities as a member of the Board of Editors of Organic Syntheses, I hope to build a body of reliable chemical knowledge that serves chemists worldwide and contributes to the continued advancement of organic chemistry.”
2026.09.11 View 2571 -
KAIST Signs MOU with Université Paris-Saclay on Behalf of K-STAR
KAIST (President Choongsik Bae) announced on September 9 that, representing K-STAR, a consortium comprising KAIST, GIST, DGIST, UNIST, and POSTECH, it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Université Paris-Saclay on September 7 to strengthen research cooperation. The signing ceremony took place at Bâtiment Bréguet on the university’s campus.
The agreement was concluded on the occasion of President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit to France. It follows up on plans discussed at the ninth Korea-France Joint Committee on Science and Technology, held in Seoul in April, to expand scientific, technological, and academic exchanges between K-STAR and French universities.
Université Paris-Saclay is one of France’s leading research universities. It is home to a large research and education ecosystem encompassing universities, grandes écoles, and major national research organizations, including the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). The university has internationally recognized strengths across a broad range of fields, from mathematics and physics to artificial intelligence, quantum technology, biology, and engineering.
Under the agreement, K-STAR and Université Paris-Saclay will establish a practical framework for cooperation encompassing student exchanges, mobility programs for early-career researchers, and joint research. They plan to begin by offering research internships through which undergraduate and graduate students can gain experience in laboratories at partner institutions. They will also expand opportunities for exchanges and collaboration among postdoctoral researchers and early-career faculty members.
The two sides will promote joint research in key scientific and technological fields, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, advanced biotechnology, and advanced materials. They will also facilitate shared access to research infrastructure and organize regular workshops and symposia, enabling researchers to maintain sustained exchanges and develop new collaborative research projects.
The agreement strengthens “Global Connect,” KAIST’s strategy for international cooperation. Through this initiative, KAIST seeks to move beyond conventional university exchanges by closely integrating research, education, and talent mobility. It also aims to expand its global research network in partnership with Korea’s other science and technology-focused universities.
“Global cooperation must move beyond conventional exchanges and evolve into partnerships that combine complementary strengths to create new knowledge and cultivate talent together. By connecting the research capabilities of Université Paris-Saclay and K-STAR, we expect to generate new research achievements in critical fields such as AI, quantum technology, and biotechnology, while further strengthening Korea’s global network in science and technology,” said KAIST President Choongsik Bae.
The agreement is also significant because it expands the educational and research cooperation that KAIST has developed with France over the past 15 years to the K-STAR level.
KAIST also signed a student exchange agreement with CentraleSupélec, a grande école affiliated with Université Paris-Saclay, in 2011. The two institutions subsequently established a dual-degree program in mechanical engineering in 2017 and have continued to develop their partnership. Building on the experience and mutual trust accumulated through this cooperation, the new agreement broadens the partnership to encompass K-STAR and Université Paris-Saclay.
Université Paris-Saclay President Camille Galap said, “Université Paris-Saclay and K-STAR have broad research capabilities spanning basic science and advanced technology, giving this partnership considerable potential. I hope the agreement will promote more active exchanges among students and researchers from both countries and enable us to achieve new scientific advances through joint research.”
Jaemin Jung, KAIST Senior Vice President for Planning and Budget, said, “This agreement marks the beginning of our efforts to translate the university-level cooperation discussed at the ninth Korea-France Joint Committee on Science and Technology in April into concrete research collaboration. KAIST will support exchanges among students and researchers so that they can work in one another’s laboratories and produce tangible outcomes, including joint research projects, publications, and the shared use of research infrastructure.”
The signing ceremony was also attended by Stéphane Nonnenmacher, Director of the Graduate School of Mathematics at Université Paris-Saclay; Divya Madhavan, Director of International Relations at CentraleSupélec; and a delegation from the Korea Institute for Advanced Study (KIAS), a KAIST-affiliated institute.
2026.09.09 View 2202 -
KAIST Professor Jaekyung Kim Selected as One of Asia's 12 Next-Generation Scientists
KAIST (President Choongsik Bae) announced on September 4 that Professor Jaekyung Kim from the Department of Biological Sciences has been selected as a Fellow of the “2026 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF),” a program that supports promising young scientists across Asia.
The Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF) is a privately funded research fellowship in Asia, established to support young scientists in carrying out creative and challenging research. Since selecting its first cohort of Fellows in 2023, the AYSF selects 12 early-career researchers each year across the fundamental science disciplines of life sciences, physical sciences, and mathematics and computer science. Each selected Fellow receives a total of $100,000 USD over two years to support their research.
The AYSF does more than support young scientists across individual academic disciplines —it actively encourages interdisciplinary research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries to open new research directions. It places particular emphasis on supporting young scientists at the critical stage of launching their careers as independent researchers, helping them develop creative ideas and pioneer new areas of research.
Candidates are nominated from among full-time researchers at universities or research institutions in Asia who are within 10 years of completing their terminal degree (Ph.D./M.D.). Among the nominated candidates, a Selection Committee composed of scientists from Asia and around the world conducts a comprehensive evaluation of each candidate’s research achievements and future research potential.
This year, 12 early-career researchers in Asia were selected as 2026 Fellows Professor Kim was named a Fellow in the life sciences category, alongside Professor Mikyung Shin of Sungkyunkwan University, making them the two Fellows affiliated with Korean universities. Previous AYS Fellows from Korea include Professor Kyeongsu Choi of the Korea Institute for Advanced Study (KIAS) in 2023; Professor Jiheong Kang of Seoul National University in 2024; and Professor Seongjun Park of Seoul National University and Professor In-Jee Jeong of KIAS in 2025.
Professor Kim studies how the brain organizes experiences and information into memories during sleep. Using a systems- and computational-neuroscience approach, he focuses on memory consolidation—the process by which information learned during the day becomes stabilized into long-term memory during sleep—and the neural mechanisms involved. He also analyzes biological signals related to dreaming and investigates how sleep affects higher cognitive functions such as creative thinking.
Professor Kim received his bachelor's degree from Hanyang University and his Ph.D. from KAIST, and completed postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the San Francisco VA Medical Center. He joined the KAIST Department of Biological Sciences in 2023 and currently leads the Neural Processing Lab.
The 2026 AYS Fellows will attend the 2026 AYSF Annual Conference on November 9, 2026, at the University of Hong Kong to showcase their research work and innovative ideas.
2026.09.04 View 2763 -
KAIST and Caltech Build Global Co-Mentoring Model for Next-Gen Researchers
KAIST is building a new global cooperation model with the Caltech — a world-renowned U.S. research institution — that goes beyond joint research to jointly nurture next-generation researchers as well.
KAIST, led by President Choongsik Bae, is holding the 1st KAIST-Caltech Joint Workshop on Molecular Science and Chemical Innovation with the Caltech in the United States from September 1 to 2.
The workshop is designed not merely to share the latest research achievements in advanced molecular science and future chemical technologies, but to build a sustainable framework of cooperation that links joint research and talent development, extending even to the shared use of research facilities.
At this workshop, particular attention is being given to establishing and operating the KAIST-Caltech Global Research Fellow (KCGRF) platform, a joint mentoring program for postdoctoral researchers.
KCGRF is a program in which faculty members from both institutions identify joint research topics and jointly select and mentor postdoctoral researchers. By enabling participating researchers to experience the research environments of both KAIST and Caltech, the program aims to nurture next-generation scientists with strong international research capabilities.
This joint initiative represents a concrete practice model of KAIST's Global Connect strategy. The vision goes beyond simple exchange with overseas universities. It aims to realize a collaborative internationalization, in which talent, knowledge, and research ideas flow between the two institutions, leading to joint research and the joint training of next-generation researchers.
Caltech is a world-renowned research institution with a long-standing tradition of excellence in the natural sciences, including chemistry and physics, and has produced numerous Nobel laureates. KAIST plans to combine Caltech's basic science research capabilities with KAIST's strengths in AI-driven and autonomous research to jointly pioneer new research topics in the field of future chemistry.
Collaboration between KAIST and Caltech began in 2024 through the BrainLink program, which supports exchanges among outstanding researchers. Centered on the Nitrogen-Hydrogen Synergy Hub Research Center, led by Professor Hyungjun Kim of the KAIST Department of Chemistry, the two institutions have continued joint research and researcher exchanges. This year, the partnership expanded further after being selected for the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Top-Tier Research Institution Cooperation Platform and Joint Research Support Program. Through this program, KAIST launched the Center for Intelligent Circular Chemical Ecosystem Innovation, led by Professor Sang Woo Han of the KAIST Department of Chemistry.
Building on this cooperation, the KAIST Department of Chemistry and Caltech’s Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in March 2026, further strengthening their collaborative framework. The two institutions plan to hold joint workshops every year, match faculty members for joint mentoring, identify postdoctoral researchers, promote reciprocal research visits, and establish a sustainable operating structure for the joint mentoring program.
At the workshop, researchers are exploring new opportunities for collaboration in key fields shaping the future of chemistry, including AI for chemistry, autonomous laboratories, computational and theoretical chemistry, molecular science, catalysis, synthesis, electrochemistry, and sustainable and circular chemistry. KAIST is also pursuing plans to jointly utilize its autonomous laboratories in synthesis and electrochemistry with Caltech researchers. By jointly utilizing this advanced research environment, in which AI supports experimental design, execution, and data analysis, researchers from both institutions plan to expand the speed and scope of their joint research.
In addition, the two institutions plan to promote short-term reciprocal visits by graduate students, building a sustainable human and academic exchange system that connects graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty members. The vision goes beyond one-off, project-centered cooperation, aiming to build a long-term foundation in which next-generation researchers from both institutions naturally interact and create new joint research.
The Center for Intelligent Circular Chemical Ecosystem Innovation aims to build a new chemical technology platform that contributes to carbon neutrality and the circular economy by developing intelligent chemical upcycling technologies that convert chemical industry byproducts into high-value chemicals and materials.
Professor Sang Woo Han of KAIST's Department of Chemistry said, "Through this workshop, we aim to expand the KAIST-Caltech collaboration from joint research to a stage where we jointly nurture next-generation researchers." He added, "By connecting the strengths of both institutions, we will work to create new research topics and achievements in the field of future chemistry."
President Choongsik Bae of KAIST said, "KAIST's international cooperation is about building relationships in which outstanding universities, people, and knowledge from around the world flow back and forth and grow together." He emphasized, "By expanding collaboration with world-class research institutions such as Caltech, we will carry KAIST's 'Global Connect' forward into concrete achievements."
Professor Sarah Reisman from Caltech’s Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, “Caltech and KAIST chemistry faculty have a long history of student exchanges and research collaboration, and this workshop is a wonderful opportunity to bring our faculty together and launch new projects supported by the Center for Intelligent Circular Chemical Ecosystem Innovation.” She added, “We are delighted to continue our strong partnership with KAIST.”
2026.09.02 View 1927 -
KAIST and Thermo Fisher Scientific to Establish Next-Generation Autonomous Research Hub, “SHARE Hub”
KAIST is partnering with Thermo Fisher Scientific to establish SHARE Hub, a next-generation autonomous research hub where AI designs experiments and robots execute them. The initiative aims to accelerate scientific discovery and drug development by integrating researchers, AI systems, laboratory robotics, and experimental data into a self-driving research environment.
KAIST (President Choongsik Bae) announced on August 27 that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Thermo Fisher Scientific on August 26 to establish SHARE Hub and pursue broader strategic collaboration.
The MOU signing ceremony brought together KAIST President Choongsik Bae and senior executives from Thermo Fisher Scientific, including Dan Shine, Senior Vice President and President of the Analytical Instruments Group; Soo Jin Seok, Vice President and General Manager for Korea and Taiwan; Manoj Prasad, Vice President of IT & Digital Solutions for Asia Pacific and the Middle East; and Mark Fish, Vice President and General Manager of Digital Science & Automation Solutions.The two institutions will combine KAIST’s multidisciplinary expertise in life sciences, chemistry, medicine, AI, and robotics with Thermo Fisher Scientific’s advanced research equipment and capabilities in laboratory automation and systems integration to establish SHARE Hub.*
*SHARE Hub: A self-driving laboratory connecting human intuition, AI reasoning, robotic execution, and experimental data.
“SHARE Hub is not simply another laboratory equipped with advanced instruments. It is an open-innovation platform where scientists, AI researchers, engineers, and industry partners can jointly develop and validate next-generation autonomous laboratories,” said KAIST President Choongsik Bae. “We expect SHARE Hub to bring KAIST’s ‘Beyond Laboratory’ strategy to life and evolve into a global collaboration model that sets a new standard for the future of scientific research.”
Dan Shine, Senior Vice President and President, Analytical Instruments Group at Thermo Fisher Scientific, said, “As advanced analytical technologies become increasingly connected with AI and automation, the way scientists generate and interpret data and translate it into new discoveries is rapidly evolving. By bringing together KAIST’s outstanding research capabilities with Thermo Fisher Scientific’s analytical technologies and scientific expertise, we look forward to applying and validating new ways of working in real research environments through the SHARE Hub and turning promising ideas into meaningful scientific outcomes.”
SHARE Hub goes beyond conventional laboratory automation, in which machines simply perform predefined tasks. Researchers will formulate scientific questions and set research directions, and then AI will design experiments, robots will execute them, and the resulting data will be fed back into the AI system to inform subsequent experiments.
Recent advances in AI have significantly accelerated the design of new drug candidates. However, synthesizing candidate compounds and evaluating their efficacy and physicochemical properties still require considerable time, cost, and specialized expertise. Existing laboratory automation systems have also faced challenges integrating individual instruments, operating software, and AI systems, making it difficult to analyze results in real time, and autonomously select and execute subsequent experiments.
To overcome these limitations, SHARE Hub will be built around “Digital Plug & Play” and “Physical Plug & Play” architectures, enabling new AI systems, robots, and laboratory instruments to be integrated flexibly. This modular approach will allow rapidly evolving technologies to be introduced into research environments and promptly evaluated for their performance and usability under real-world conditions.
Rather than focusing solely on equipment deployment or experimental automation, the KAIST–Thermo Fisher Scientific partnership will jointly develop the enabling technologies and research methods required for autonomous laboratories. KAIST’s foundational technologies and research ideas in AI, biotechnology, and engineering will be combined with Thermo Fisher Scientific’s research instruments, automation platforms, and systems-integration capabilities. These capabilities will then be integrated, tested, and refined within SHARE Hub.
As part of this effort, the two institutions will launch a “Challenge Program” to develop core AI, robotics, and automation technologies, and apply them to real-world challenges in scientific research and drug discovery. Through the program, KAIST will serve as a co-developer, early adopter, and validation partner, helping drive the development and advancement of emerging technologies.
SHARE Hub is envisioned not as an autonomous laboratory dedicated to a single research team or discipline, but as an open research hub where KAIST researchers from diverse fields can collaborate with external partners to test and apply new technologies. By bringing life sciences, chemistry, and medicine together with AI and robotics, the hub will develop new autonomous experimentation technologies and research methods while addressing real-world scientific challenges.
KAIST plans to gradually expand participation to companies, universities, research institutes, and hospitals in Korea and abroad. In doing so, it aims to develop SHARE Hub into an open-innovation testbed for the joint development and validation of research equipment and AI, robotics, and automation technologies. The ultimate goal is to establish SHARE Hub as a global benchmark for autonomous science and drug discovery, pioneering new research methods and sharing the resulting technologies with research communities worldwide.
“SHARE Hub is not merely about automating experiments. Its central purpose is to connect researchers with technologies that enable AI and robots to tackle real scientific questions,” said Hee-Seung Lee, Dean of the KAIST College of Natural Sciences and Director of the InnoCORE AI-CRED Institute (AI Co-Research & Education for Innovative Drug). “We plan to develop the hub into an open research environment where researchers from different disciplines and industry partners can jointly develop and validate new technologies.”
KAIST also held the “KAIST–Thermo Fisher Scientific Mini-Symposium for SHARE” on the afternoon of August 26. During the symposium, KAIST researchers presented their latest work in major areas of autonomous science, including autonomous drug discovery, AI-driven protein design, next-generation therapeutics, and autonomous chemical experimentation.
At the symposium, Mark Fish, Vice President and General Manager of Digital Science & Automation Solutions at Thermo Fisher Scientific, presented a vision for the future of autonomous science and drug discovery. Building on the discussions at the event, the two institutions explored future directions and plans for collaborative research.
2026.08.27 View 2724 -
President Choongsik Bae Moves to Implement KAIST’s Vision...Launching AI-Driven Innovation in Education, Research, Entrepreneurship, Administration, and Internationalization
KAIST is building the execution steps to realize its vision, "Fundamentals First, Innovation Forward." At a press briefing on August 24, President Choongsik Bae presented the key execution tasks that give shape to the five Beyond Series strategies he introduced at his inauguration. On August 25, KAIST announced that it is beginning full-scale innovation across the areas of education, research, entrepreneurship, administration, campus infrastructure, and internationalization.
At his August 10 inauguration ceremony, President Bae introduced five development strategies: Beyond AI, Beyond Laboratory, Beyond Barriers, Beyond Carbon, and Beyond KAIST. Together, they aim to extend AI as a common foundation across every discipline, connect laboratory achievements to industry and entrepreneurship, remove unnecessary internal barriers, turn the campus into a testbed for sustainable technology, and expand KAIST's reach to both local communities and the rest of the world.
At the briefing, President Bae said, "While my inaugural vision set KAIST's direction, it is now time to translate that vision into tangible changes for our community. KAIST will move beyond mere announcements and swiftly execute actionable tasks.”
Beyond AI, AI for Everyone: Redesigning the AI Curriculum for Every Course
The first major shift redefines education and research.
KAIST is expanding AI from a specialized discipline into a core competency for every student and researcher under the banner "AI for Everyone." To achieve this, KAIST will systematically restructure its curriculum based on proficiency levels and educational goals, offering a seamless pathway from the humanities, social sciences, arts, and basic sciences to foundational AI principles and applied AI-X fields.
Specifically, the curriculum will be structured into three levels based on the degree of AI integration. This framework bridges non-AI education focused on human critical thinking, AI-assisted learning, and advanced coursework where students design and lead AI technologies themselves.
On the research front, KAIST will advance core AI technologies alongside Sovereign AI and Physical AI, which powers smart manufacturing, autonomous driving, robotics, and digital twins. Simultaneously, the university will launch new convergent research areas, including AI-Energy, AI-Quantum, AI-Fusion, and AI-Bio.
"As AI advances, strong fundamentals and uniquely human critical thinking become even more critical," noted President Bae. He emphasized that by building AI capabilities on top of solid fundamentals, KAIST will empower students to lead AI applications in their respective fields while driving a comprehensive AI transformation across all research and education.
From the Laboratory to Industry: Freshman Entrepreneurship and Corporate AI Autonomous Labs
The second phase focuses on creating an ecosystem where research extends beyond the lab into industrial and societal innovation.
KAIST will bolster long-term basic research while expanding large-scale research programs as well as research in national strategic technologies and future science and technology. By focusing research strength on future strategic areas like quantum tech, climate, and energy, KAIST plans to expand corporate Satellite Labs and joint research centers.
In particular, KAIST will collaborate with industry partners to build AI Autonomous Labs. By applying AI to experiment design, execution, and data analysis, the university aims to accelerate R&D productivity and establish a new benchmark for industry-academia collaboration.
Entrepreneurship education will start on day one. Incoming freshmen will be exposed to KAIST’s research milestones, startup success stories, and network with founders, investors, and industry experts. By integrating field experience, business fundamentals, and market validation, KAIST will cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets from a student's very first semester and establish an Entrepreneurship Education Innovation Committee.
"Laboratories must not stop at generating knowledge; they must serve as launchpads for real-world innovation," said President Bae, adding that KAIST will build an integrated ecosystem connecting basic research, industry collaboration, and startups.
Institutional Innovation: Removing Internal Barriers to Focus on Core Research and Education
KAIST is also reforming administrative operations, so faculty and students can dedicate more time to education and research.
The university will implement a digital one-stop administrative system using AI tools to automate repetitive tasks and streamline complex procedures while continuously removing unnecessary regulations. Staff driving AI-based administrative innovation will receive incentives and specialized training.
Personnel procedures will be streamlined, and performance evaluations updated, to recognize diverse contributions. KAIST will also enhance onboarding support for new faculty members and actively remove institutional barriers between academic departments, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and joint advising.
"Administration exists not for management's sake, but to help students and faculty focus deeply on education and research," emphasized President Bae. He added that KAIST would actively identify and streamline regulations and procedures that take up members' valuable time.
Strengthening Climate and Energy Research for a Safe, Sustainable Campus
KAIST is leveraging its research capabilities in climate and energy to build a sustainable, safe, and efficient campus.
Using AI and energy management technologies, the university will systematically track and optimize campus energy consumption.
Additionally, KAIST will roll out phased spatial innovations, redesigning campus flow around pedestrians and optimizing research spaces while preserving green areas.
"We will apply KAIST's climate and energy research directly to our campus, boosting energy efficiency and safety, and maintaining an environment where our community can thrive," said President Bae.
Global Connect: Building the Future with the Global Community
KAIST’s internationalization strategy aims to transform the campus into a global hub where top talent and international research institutions convene.
The university will actively recruit global talent to significantly raise the proportion of international students. It also plans to expand global partnerships and link them to concrete education and research collaboration through dual-degree programs as well as student and researcher exchanges.
To foster sustained international collaboration, KAIST will invite distinguished global scholars to serve on dissertation committees and operate Global Advisory Boards (GAB) across departments. Incentives for international joint research will also be expanded.
Domestically, KAIST will link regional research hubs into strategic technology clusters to support balanced national development, while launching the "KAIST Connect Camp," which brings together students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and contributes to the revitalization of its alumni network. "Internationalization must evolve so global talent and partners create new value together with KAIST," stated President Bae, adding that he aims to build KAIST into a global innovation platform connecting talent and knowledge, and local communities and the world.
Realizing the 'AI Native Campus' Architecture
KAIST will integrate AI Interactive Education, AI Autonomous Labs, AI Agent Administration, and AI Energy Convergence into a unified system, building an "AI Native Campus" that seamlessly connects education, research, administration, and infrastructure.
Execution Roadmap Toward KAIST’s 60th Anniversary in 2031
KAIST plans to connect these innovation initiatives not as standalone projects, but as part of a mid- to long-term development strategy leading up to its 60th anniversary in 2031. To this end, the university will flesh out its 100-year vision alongside its 2031 goals, while continuously reviewing and updating its long-term strategy.
"Our goal is not for KAIST to follow the world's top universities, but to set a new standard for what a university can be," said President Bae. He emphasized that KAIST would create pioneering models across education, research, technology entrepreneurship, university administration, sustainable campus operations, and global cooperation in the AI era, spreading them throughout Korea and the world.President Bae concluded by saying, "By our 60th anniversary in 2031, I want today's plans to be more than slogans. I want them to become changes that students, faculty, and staff genuinely feel," thus affirming his commitment to developing KAIST into a national innovation platform that shapes the future of science and technology in Korea. (END)
[TT1]while maintaining?
2026.08.25 View 1282