KT, Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration to Build 'AI No.1 Nation'

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] KT is forming an industry-academia-research AI collaboration group called the ‘AI One Team’ with Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings, KAIST, Hanyang University, and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI).

On the 20th, KT announced that it will create the ‘AI One Team’ with Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings, KAIST, Hanyang University, and ETRI to ▲build a talent development platform ▲discover application cases of ‘AI Convergence Competency (AI+X)’ ▲establish an AI open ecosystem ▲set up an alliance secretariat, aiming to realize ‘Korea as the No.1 AI nation.’ This collaboration signifies a concrete plan established through cooperation among industry, academia, and research institutes to successfully implement the government’s ‘AI National Strategy.’

First, the collaboration group will create an ‘AI Talent Development Platform.’ They will open an ‘industry-practical AI education course’ to nurture technical personnel tailored to the characteristics of each industrial sector. They will also build a platform connecting the supply and demand of AI talent. Through the ‘AI Talent Platform,’ they plan to provide opportunities for AI talent to be evenly utilized across the entire industry.

Collaboration with industry leaders will also be strengthened. KT plans to work with Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings to integrate AI technology into actual industrial sites and discover innovative success cases. Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings will participate in this AI One Team as a leading industry company, sharing application know-how and technology with small, medium, and venture companies to expand Korea’s AI+X ecosystem.

One of the ultimate goals of AI One Team is to enhance AI technological capabilities not only for non-ICT companies but also for small, startup, and venture companies. They plan to create an open AI ecosystem where small and venture companies can freely participate, share successful AI digital transformation cases across various industries such as manufacturing, distribution, service, and finance, and develop it into a platform and ecosystem where necessary solutions and talent can be easily accessed.

KT will also establish an alliance secretariat within KT to ensure continuous momentum for executing AI One Team’s collaborative projects and expanding the AI+X open ecosystem. The alliance secretariat will support close cooperation among participating institutions and the production and dissemination of concrete results. A KT official stated, “We will lead not only the domestic AI industry development but also global AI standardization and global AI talent development.”

Goo Hyun-mo, the designated CEO of KT, said, “In the AI and 5G era, KT’s way to contribute to Korea is to help improve people’s lives and innovate other industries based on our communication networks, ICT technology, and AI technology,” adding, “Through AI One Team, we will spare no effort to support Korea becoming the No.1 AI nation leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”