Sunchon National University Selected as Finalist for 'Grand ICT Research Center Support Project'

- Over 8 Years, 21.3 Billion KRW Supported to Train Researchers and Promote Technology Intelligence in Smart Farm ICT Technology Sector

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon National University (President Ko Young-jin) announced on the 4th that it was finally selected for the 'Grand ICT Research Center Support Project' hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 23rd of last month.

The Grand ICT Research Center Support Project is a program promoted to nurture regional innovative talents in the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) field through large-scale industry-academia cooperation joint research with small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-sized companies. This year, one center was selected in each of the five major regions: Gyeonggi·Incheon, Chungcheong, Honam, Northeast, and Southeast, to lead the intelligent innovation of regional companies by utilizing intelligent technology capabilities such as artificial intelligence and big data. Suncheon National University's 'Intelligent Smart Agriculture Grand ICT Research Center' was finally selected as the Honam regional base center.

With the acquisition of this project, Suncheon National University will receive about 21.3 billion KRW over eight years, with 2.8 billion KRW annually (1.76 billion KRW in the first year) starting this year. Through this project, the university plans to nurture intelligent and creative convergence talents called 'IMAGINEER' equipped with practical field capabilities based on intelligent innovation education and technology research. From 2022, the research center will operate at the Goheung Jeonnam Smart Farm Innovation Valley, leading regional growth and industrial intelligence by developing leading technologies in the smart agriculture field in collaboration with the government, local governments, and regional industries.

This project involves 16 local governments and regional innovation institutions including Seoul National University, Kyung Hee University, KAIST, Andong National University, Jeju National University, Jeollanam-do, Goheung County, Jeonnam TP Foundation, and Jeonnam Agricultural Research & Extension Services. The mid-sized company GS ITM Co., Ltd. will provide in-kind support of an artificial intelligence platform worth 1.5 billion KRW.

Additionally, 35 industrial companies including local companies LCIS Co., Ltd. and Heungyang Agricultural Cooperative Corporation, along with 130 specialized researchers, will participate in education and research and development.

The core projects include ▲ operating a master's degree program for employees of regional industries (selecting 25 new students annually, with 90% of tuition supported by the center) ▲ joint development and research of intelligent smart agriculture technologies through industry-academia-research cooperation (researching intelligent IoT production technology based on a closed system, leading smart agricultural intelligent distribution technologies, and core technologies for smart agricultural intelligence infrastructure) ▲ operating the research center and the Graduate School of Smart Agriculture at Jeonnam Smart Farm Innovation Valley.

Yeohyun, Director of the Grand ICT Research Center at Suncheon National University, said, “We will promote the project so that Suncheon National University can become the center of Korea’s new smart agriculture industry by strengthening cooperation in education and research and development with the local community and regional industries, focusing on the operation of the Jeonnam Smart Farm Innovation Valley research center and Graduate School of Smart Agriculture to be established in Goheung County.”