InsilicoGen, a bioinformatics specialized company, announced on the 6th that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for digital breeding talent development and joint research and development with Professor Han-Yong Park's team from the Department of Bio-Industrial Resource Engineering at Sejong University at Jiphyeon Hall, Sejong University.
Breeding is a technology that creates new varieties or improves existing ones as needed. Recently, with the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the introduction of digital breeding in the domestic seed industry is becoming more active. Digital breeding, which the parties agreed to collaborate on, predicts phenotypes based on genotypes rather than growing crops fully to observe specific traits. It refers to the latest big data-based breeding technology that provides efficiency in developing new varieties through simulation-based crossbreeding.
The signing ceremony was held with the attendance of Nam-Woo Choi, CEO of InsilicoGen, Kyung-Won Kim, Vice President for External Affairs of Sejong University, Professor Han-Yong Park, and related personnel. Both institutions plan to actively cooperate in areas including ▲ joint execution of digital breeding research projects and industry-academia joint technology development ▲ development of educational curricula for talent cultivation combining digital breeding and AI ▲ support for field-oriented digital breeding technology education and internship programs reflecting industry demands ▲ exchange of the latest academic information and mutual use of research facilities and equipment.
Digital breeding technology using artificial intelligence can significantly reduce the time, cost, and labor required for crop breeding. It is expected to enable the distribution of superior varieties such as pest-resistant crops and crops containing functional components. InsilicoGen is developing and operating a web-based digital breeding platform to manage crop phenotypes and genotypes to foster the growth of digital breeding and secure competitiveness in the domestic seed industry.
Yoon-Hee Shin, Head of Digital Breeding Technology at InsilicoGen, said, "The breeding paradigm is rapidly evolving from productivity enhancement to high-functionality seed fields such as varieties with enhanced intrinsic resistance functions or crops containing phytochemicals. We will take the lead in making Korea a K-Digital Breeding and seed powerhouse by strengthening digital breeding technology competitiveness and cultivating talent in the digital breeding field."
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