Busan Proves Its Competitiveness in Marine and Fisheries AI R&D Compared to the Capital Region

BISTEP Releases Brief on Trends and Implications of Marine and Fisheries AI R&D

Busan has emerged as a key hub in the field of marine and fisheries artificial intelligence, accounting for the highest proportion among all single regions nationwide in national research and development projects.

The Busan Institute for Science and Technology Promotion in Higher Education (BISTEP, President Kim Youngbu), the city’s dedicated R&D agency, recently published "Trends and Implications of Marine and Fisheries AI R&D" as the second issue of the BISTEP Science & Technology Brief, analyzing the rapidly growing trends in marine and fisheries AI technology.

According to the brief, between 2019 and 2023, there were a total of 1,033 AI-related R&D projects under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries nationwide. Of these, Busan carried out 356 projects (34.5%), a proportion nearly equal to that of the entire Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon metropolitan area (37.0%). This is the highest performance among all single regions nationwide.

Busan’s research participants were evenly distributed among small and medium-sized enterprises (126 projects), universities (77 projects), and government-funded research institutes (72 projects). In particular, local institutions such as the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Pukyong National University, the National Institute of Fisheries Science, and the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering achieved top-level results nationwide.

Busan also demonstrated a well-balanced ecosystem, with basic research (49.1%), applied research (28.8%), and development research (35.3%) all being conducted at levels comparable to or above the national average, ensuring a robust connection from technology creation to field application.

Busan’s performance in item-designated projects (33.4%) and top-down projects (54.2%) also exceeded the national average, standing out in strategically aligned research in line with government policy directions. In particular, Busan showed strengths in the development of practical technologies in specialized fields such as shipbuilding and marine system software, fishing equipment, and hull design.

Kim Youngbu, President of BISTEP, emphasized, "In the era of AI, linking research and development with industrial sites is crucial for Busan to become a hub for marine and fisheries AI technology," adding, "It is essential to establish an organic cooperation system centered on specialized research institutes and universities within the region."

The brief can be found on the BISTEP website.