Kyungnam University and Germany's IDTA Establish World's Third "IDTA Research Hub Korea"

Officially Launched at the Gyeongnam Intelligence Innovation Project Group

Kyungnam University has established the "IDTA Research Hub Korea" in cooperation with the German Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA).

This is the third such case in the world, following Clemson University in the United States and UTTOP in France, and the first in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

Announcement of the establishment of a hub posted on the German IDTA's LinkedIn.

The establishment of the IDTA Research Hub Korea was pursued on the basis of an agreement signed with IDTA on the second day of the "Global Conference on Data Standardization for Physical AI and PINN Models," held in December last year at the Changwon Exhibition Convention Center (CECO).

The agreement focuses on the domestic dissemination of Asset Administration Shell (AAS) standard technology and the operation of educational programs, research and development (R&D) of digital twins and construction of testbeds, and the strengthening of the global manufacturing data ecosystem network. After IDTA's official review and approval process, the hub was officially established on February 19 within Kyungnam University, with the Gyeongnam Intelligence Innovation Project Group as its base.

The establishment of this research hub is a result that demonstrates Kyungnam University's accumulated manufacturing AI research capabilities have advanced to the stage of global standard research, and it is highly significant in that it has created a bridgehead for regional manufacturing companies to overcome international standard barriers and enter the global market. In fact, the news of the hub's establishment was shared through official global channels such as the German IDTA's LinkedIn, drawing international attention.

Going forward, Kyungnam University plans to fully promote research on the standardization of manufacturing data and ontologies based on manufacturing-specialized Physical AI, PINN (Physics-Informed Neural Network), and PI-LAM (Physical Intelligence Large Action Model) centered on the IDTA Research Hub Korea. In particular, the university intends to take the lead in linking AI and physical data generated in manufacturing sites with international standards and to strengthen cooperation with the global manufacturing data ecosystem.

Meik Billmann, Managing Director of IDTA, said, "AAS is a key standard that ensures the interoperability of industrial digital twins worldwide," adding, "The establishment of the Research Hub with Kyungnam University will be an important opportunity for Korea's manufacturing industry to fully participate in the global digital twin standard framework."

Yu Namhyun, head of the Gyeongnam Intelligence Innovation Project Group and general manager of the IDTA Research Hub Korea, said, "The establishment of this Research Hub means that the manufacturing AI capabilities Kyungnam University has accumulated have advanced to the stage of global standard research," and added, "We will contribute to strengthening the international competitiveness of regional manufacturing companies through research on Physical AI and manufacturing data standards."

Meanwhile, as the lead university for the Regional Intelligence Innovation Talent Development Project supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation, Kyungnam University operates the Gyeongnam Intelligence Innovation Project Group and has been focusing on research and talent development in manufacturing AI and Physical AI through the AI·SW Convergence Graduate School and the Global Joint Research Center for Ultra-Large Manufacturing AI, among others. Last year, the university carried out the "PINN Model Manufacturing Convergence Data Collection and Demonstration Project," securing demonstration experience and achievements in data accumulation.

This research foundation has also been significantly supported by the "Human-AI Collaborative LAM Development Global Demonstration Project," which was exempted from the preliminary feasibility study by a decision of the Cabinet meeting in August last year. Through this national strategic project worth 600 billion won in state funding, Kyungnam University has been gradually expanding its research and demonstration capabilities in the fields of manufacturing AI and AX.

Choi Hyungdoo, National Assembly member for Masanhappo-gu, who led this project, said, "I hope that, based on the manufacturing DX and AX capabilities Kyungnam University has accumulated, the region will rise to become a global research hub for manufacturing-specialized Physical AI."