"Bill Gates Support" KT Develops COVID-19 Infection Risk Measurement

MS co-founder Bill Gates

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] KT is conducting research to develop a model for measuring the risk of infection from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with support from the 'Light Fund,' co-invested by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Light Fund is a global public-private partnership research fund established in July 2018 through joint investment by Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and domestic life science companies to promote global public health.

According to KT on the 5th, KT proposed the project 'AI-based COVID-19 Infection Risk Self-Measurement Technology Development' to the Light Fund and was selected as a research support project in recognition of its achievements. This project will proceed until February 2021, with the Light Fund providing pilot research funding. 'Mobile Doctor,' a participant in the 'Next-Generation Quarantine Research' consortium led by the Gates Foundation, is also joining this research. Based on the results of this pilot study, KT plans to additionally apply for the Light Fund's medium to large-scale project call in 2021 to secure momentum for follow-up research.

In this research, KT plans to analyze past movement data of smartphone app users and publicly available COVID-19 confirmed patient movement data from the government using artificial intelligence and big data to measure the risk of COVID-19 infection. Through this, it is expected to minimize personal information exposure while identifying direct and indirect contacts of confirmed COVID-19 patients to help prevent further spread. Additionally, it is anticipated to establish a foundation for effectively selecting high-risk groups and efficiently utilizing limited resources (medical staff, diagnostic kits, etc.) in the event of a second large-scale outbreak or cluster infections.

KT aims to further advance its infectious disease spread prevention platform centered on infection risk guidance and digital tracing through this research. Kim Chae-hee, Head of KT AI/BigData Business Division (Executive Director), said, “We hope that this COVID-19 infection risk measurement research conducted with support from the Light Fund will contribute even a little to the COVID-19 response,” adding, “KT will spare no effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and improve the efficiency of the medical industry’s work through warm technologies for people such as AI and big data.”