[Report] Which University Ranks First in Korea and Fourth in the World for Citations per Faculty Member?

DGIST Gains International Recognition for Research Excellence in Just 21 Years
Fostering Three Major Future Strategies?Physical AI, Human Digital Twin, and Quantum Sensing?to Become a World-Class University

"Number one in Korea and fourth in the world for citations per faculty member; second in Korea and twenty-first in the world for papers per faculty member."

This is the remarkable achievement of the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) in the 2026 and 2025 evaluations of the 'QS World University Rankings,' which are published annually by the renowned UK higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) campus. The statues of seven scientists, including King Sejong the Great who illuminated Korea, are symbols of the DGIST campus. Photo by DGIST

In 2024, DGIST ranked third in Korea and thirty-third in the world in the 'THE World University Rankings,' which are announced independently from the QS World University Rankings. DGIST, which opened in 2004, has gained international recognition for the qualitative excellence of its research in just 21 years, an accomplishment no other Korean university has achieved.

Numerous papers from DGIST have also graced the covers of prestigious international science journals. In 2023, a total of 14 papers, in 2024, 18 papers, and in 2025, 9 papers appeared on the covers of world-renowned journals such as Advanced Materials, raising DGIST’s profile on the global stage.

Fewest Full-Time Faculty among the Four Major Institutes of Science and Technology, Yet Outstanding Results

Among the four major institutes of science and technology in Korea, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has about 750 full-time faculty members, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) about 350, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) about 200, while DGIST has about 180, the smallest number among the four.

On September 19, a visit was made to DGIST’s vast campus in Hyeonpung-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu, which spans 674,101 square meters (about 202,700 pyeong) and houses 24 buildings for education, residence, and support facilities. Although the campus area is large, the resident population is relatively small, with fewer than 3,000 people, including 784 faculty and staff and 2,158 students.

Lee Gunwoo, President of DGIST, is answering reporters' questions. Photo by Kim Jounghwa

During a press conference that day, President Lee Gunwoo stated, "The biggest weakness of Korean universities is the lack of flagship fields to represent them, which is why we still struggle to answer whether there are world-class universities in Korea. We decided that we must at least establish flagship research fields."

As a result, three major future strategic fields were established: Physical AI, Human Digital Twin, and Quantum Sensing. President Lee explained, "We finalized these three fields after comprehensively reviewing their significance, future direction, domestic and international technology trends, DGIST’s infrastructure, and potential for collaboration with local industries. For each field, strategic task forces will actively pursue large-scale national projects, foster specialized talent, strengthen research competitiveness, and promote technology commercialization and industrialization."

Advanced Research Infrastructure, Active Faculty and Student Startups

DGIST has also established advanced research infrastructure. The Next-Generation Semiconductor Convergence Research Institute, which includes a materials analysis lab and a device cleanroom, is the top semiconductor research facility among Korean universities. The institute also operates the country’s largest experimental animal center, housing 20,000 to 30,000 laboratory animals, and the Supercomputing AI Education and Research Center, which utilizes Korea’s number one open supercomputer for pure education and research purposes.

There is also active investment in technology and a vibrant startup culture among faculty and students. A total of 22 companies have been established with technology contributed by DGIST-affiliated research institutes, with 12 currently in operation. There are 26 faculty-founded startups, 20 of which are currently operating, and 54 student-founded startups, with 32 currently active.

A researcher at the DGIST Next-Generation Semiconductor Convergence Research Institute is inspecting a wafer during the wafer production process. Photo by DGIST

In 2022, Professor Lee Hochun of the DGIST Department of Energy Science and Engineering founded Solitech Co., Ltd., which is developing next-generation all-solid-state batteries, after his 'new solid electrolyte' technology was recognized. Univaba Co., Ltd. was founded in 2021 by Nam Myungjin, then an undergraduate student at DGIST, and is gaining recognition as a Korean-style ChatGPT. With core technologies such as document summarization, speech-to-text (STT), and text-to-speech (TTS), Univaba is expanding its influence across various industries, including manufacturing, logistics, education, and medical tourism. To support startups at every stage of growth, DGIST operates its own private investment-led technology startup support program.

DGIST is also expanding its scope as a comprehensive education and research institution. It established the region's first professional graduate school of engineering to address corporate challenges and foster talent, and is building the DGIST Global Campus to respond to future core technologies based on AI.

Through these initiatives, DGIST is creating a broad educational ecosystem that includes both local industry employees and international students. In September 2025, DGIST will host the World Engineering Education Forum (WEEF) and the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC), bringing together about 800 global education leaders and positioning DGIST and Daegu as central hubs for international academic exchange.

President Lee emphasized, "For the past 21 years, DGIST has led innovation in science and technology in Korea, and we are now preparing for the next 20 years as a world-class university. By expanding global cooperation, advancing future core technologies, and establishing a world-leading campus, we will make DGIST a research innovation hub that attracts global attention."