Pohang's Future Vision in Global Competition... World-renowned Scholars Gather
Mayor Lee: "Securing Super-gap Competitiveness in New Industries, Leading the Global Agenda"
Pohang City invited world-renowned scholars and experts from various fields to envision a new future for Pohang together, aiming to diversify its industrial structure from a steel-centered industry to future-oriented industries such as secondary batteries, hydrogen, bio, and digital, as well as advanced knowledge industries.
On the 12th, the "2024 World Knowledge Forum Pohang" was successfully held at the POSCO International Center of Pohang University of Science and Technology, hosted by Pohang City and organized by the Maekyung Media Group, with participation from North Gyeongsang Province, global and domestic scholars, business leaders, local universities, and related organizations.
The World Knowledge Forum is Asia's largest global business forum, serving as a festival of knowledge where the most advanced ideas are showcased each year and wisdom is shared to solve pressing global issues.
The event was attended by Pohang Mayor Lee Kangdeok, Maekyung CEO Sohn Hyundeok, North Gyeongsang Province Deputy Governor Kim Hakhong, Pohang City Council Chairman Kim Ilman, Handong University President Choi Doseong, POSTECH Vice President for External Affairs Kim Jongkyu, POSCO Future Technology Research Institute Director Kim Gisu, Pohang Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Na Juyeong, digital business leaders, city and provincial council members, and about 300 others.
At this forum, the city presented Pohang's new vision to the world as a new industry innovation city with world-class advanced science infrastructure, outstanding local talent, and excellent tourism resources including the sea, leading the global agenda with its global competitiveness.
The main theme of the forum was "Journey to Coexistence: The Future of Next Generation Strong Small City Pohang," reflecting Pohang's determination to overcome difficult internal and external circumstances such as global new industry technology hegemony competition and the deepening crisis of regional extinction, and to leap forward as a leading city in the Pan-East Sea region and as a small but strong local city.
The keynote speech that opened the forum was delivered by Stuart Russell, a world-renowned expert in artificial intelligence and professor of computer science at UC Berkeley, on the topic "The New Future Industry Brought by Artificial Intelligence."
Professor Russell analyzed that the artificial intelligence industry, if based on appropriate research and regulation, possesses vast potential and unstoppable momentum to lead future industries and will greatly contribute to all aspects of human life.
Following this, Pohang University of Science and Technology AI Research Institute Director Seo Youngju chaired a panel discussion with Kim Injoong, Head of the BK21 AI Education and Research Group at Handong University, Jung Woosung, POSTECH professor, Sung Yeolbeom, Team Leader of Digital Talent Development at the Ministry of Science and ICT, and Kim Seonsu, Head of AI Business Development at Amazon Web Services (AWS), proposing future visions and response strategies for Pohang to lead the AI era in an in-depth panel discussion.
In the first special session, Jim Rogers, Chairman of Beeland Interests and one of the world's top three investors alongside Warren Buffett and George Soros, presented "The Future Vision Pohang Should Pursue," sharing cases of finding growth opportunities and making leaps forward amid uncertain global economic crises and competition between local cities.
The second session featured Ed Conway, author of "Material World," selected as the Financial Times Book of the Year and economics editor at Sky News UK, who gave a presentation on "The New Industries of Pohang Opened by Iron and Lithium."
The final third session focused on ESG for a 2050 carbon-neutral city, concluding with a conversation and exchange of opinions with the audience between Catherine Atkin, Chair of the Stanford University CDPI (Climate Change Policy Initiative), and Handong University President Choi Doseong.
Mayor Lee Kangdeok said, "It is very meaningful that the World Knowledge Forum, Asia's largest business forum, is being held in Pohang, which is emerging as a global leader in new industries," and added, "Through this forum, we will gather wisdom to secure unrivaled competitiveness in new industries and lead the global agenda to illuminate a new future for Pohang."
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