"Government Invests 163.3 Billion KRW This Year to Foster SW Talent for 'AI Powerhouse Leap'"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The government will invest 163.3 billion KRW this year to advance as a leading AI (Artificial Intelligence) powerhouse, including nurturing software (SW) talent. This is an increase of more than 20% compared to the previous year.

On the 20th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it has finalized and will implement the 'SW Talent Nurturing and Base Expansion Project' implementation plan based on this content. The total budget allocated for SW talent nurturing this year is 163.3 billion KRW, an increase of 38.4 billion KRW (23%) compared to the previous year. Approximately 140,000 people will be educated through curricula in elementary, middle, high schools, and universities, and programming competitions, hackathons, and online SW education will also be conducted.

The government will support 40 SW-centered universities with 80 billion KRW to nurture customized practical talents that meet industrial field demands. Additionally, by introducing the innovative program of France's Ecole 42, through the Innovation Academy opened last December, it plans to nurture high-level leaders who will lead AI and the 4th Industrial Revolution. Starting with 250 students in the first cohort in February, the goal is to produce 500 innovative SW talents annually. Ecole 42 refers to a self-directed learning software education program.

Along with this, the government will invest 8.6 billion KRW in the SW Maestro program, which supports advanced education such as mentoring by top experts. To nurture advanced technical personnel, the SW Star Lab, which selects university research labs for original technology R&D in the SW field, will also expand support from 29 labs last year to 36 labs this year.

In elementary, middle, and high schools, advanced education including AI will be conducted. First, 'AI Education Pilot Schools' will be operated in 150 schools nationwide, and to establish SW advanced subjects including AI, two types of textbooks for elementary and middle schools and four types for high schools will be developed. Training will also be promoted to nurture 2,500 teachers equipped with SW and AI education capabilities.

To address the SW education gap among information-disadvantaged groups such as talents in island and mountainous areas, the 'SW Future Filling Center' will be expanded from the current 5 centers to 10. Additionally, support will be provided for developing hands-on education programs using SW and AI teaching materials, nurturing SW professional instructors targeting youth, career-interrupted women, and retired developers, development education to nurture 825 specialized talents in immersive content, and nurturing master's and doctoral level talents through the operation of 7 immersive content research labs.