From Korea’s Leading Industrial City to the Hub of Asia-Pacific AI Cooperation
Building on Over 30 Years of Successful APCTP Operation... Pohang Takes on the Challenge to Attract the Asia-Pacific AI Center
Pohang is once again taking on a new challenge. This time, the theme is artificial intelligence. The city known for steel has declared its transformation into a city of code.
On December 22, Pohang City held the Asia-Pacific AI Center Attraction Vision Proclamation Ceremony in the main conference room at Pohang City Hall, officially announcing its vision and goals to become a core hub city for Asia-Pacific AI cooperation.
This event was organized to officially declare the role of the Asia-Pacific AI Center and Pohang’s proposed vision, following the recent adoption of the 'AI Initiative' for digital transformation at the APEC Summit.
The event was attended by Pohang Mayor Lee Kangdeok, Pohang City Council Chairman Kim Ilman, Pohang Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Na Juyeong, Pohang Steel Management Corporation Chairman Jeon Ikhyeon, POSTECH Vice President for External Affairs Kim Jonggyu, Handong Global University Vice President for Internationalization Bang Cheongrok, Kyungpook National University Graduate School of Data Science Dean Jeong Taeok, POSCO DX CEO Shim Minseok, and Google Cloud Public Sector Director Park Jinho, along with representatives from industry, academia, research institutes, and global corporations.
Pohang City presented its core vision as 'From Korea’s leading industrial city to the hub of Asia-Pacific AI cooperation,' and established four major strategies: becoming a city that contributes to strengthening AI capabilities and bridging the technology gap in the Asia-Pacific region; presenting AI transformation models across manufacturing, energy, and urban sectors; promoting AI exchange and nurturing talent; and building governance for safe and responsible AI norms.
In a subsequent presentation, Google Cloud discussed 'The APEC AI Center as Envisioned by Google and the Future of Pohang,' sharing its perspective on the direction of the Asia-Pacific AI Center and Pohang’s potential from the standpoint of cloud, data, and AI infrastructure. Google Cloud emphasized that the combination of its global technological capabilities and partnerships would enable Pohang to emerge as a hub city for global AI innovation and set new global standards.
The Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics (APCTP) also presented on 'APCTP and the Asia-Pacific AI Center for Pohang’s Leap to Globalization,' introducing its international research network spanning 19 countries and its governance experience. APCTP suggested ways that it and the Asia-Pacific AI Center could expand the synergy between basic science and AI through global network cooperation.
Pohang is recognized as Korea’s leading city for basic science, home to world-class research institutions such as APCTP and the Max Planck Korea Institute, as well as outstanding talent from POSTECH and Handong Global University. With a strong foundation in national strategic industries such as steel, secondary batteries, and hydrogen, and a high level of energy self-sufficiency, Pohang is considered the optimal location for the Asia-Pacific AI Center, where basic science, industry, energy, and data converge.
Following this vision proclamation ceremony, the city plans to accelerate the development of a roadmap and action plans for attracting the center.
Mayor Lee Kangdeok stated, "Pohang is an internationally proven city, having successfully operated the Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics with participation from 19 Asia-Pacific countries. More than any other local government, Pohang is a city fully prepared to responsibly operate the Asia-Pacific AI Center."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
