An event was held where over 1,000 AI talents gathered in one place to share research achievements and discuss plans for cultivating future talent to lead the AI industry. Graduate students presented their research findings, while companies engaged in recruitment consultations and technology exhibitions, transforming the venue into a hub for exchange between AI talent and the industrial sector.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Information and Communications Planning Evaluation Institute (IITP) will hold '2026 Korea AI Innovation Talent Connect' from the 29th to the 31st at The Plazas, 2nd floor, COEX, Seoul.
This event brings together over 1,000 participants, including universities (graduate schools), companies, and researchers involved in major AI talent cultivation programs supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, such as AI/AX graduate schools, AI convergence innovation graduate schools, AI Star Fellowships, and leading talent training for generative AI. The event has been held annually since 2020 to share achievements of AI talent cultivation programs and discuss future visions and directions.
As AI establishes itself as a core foundation driving innovation across all industries, global competition is expanding beyond the capability to design and build AI systems to securing integrated talents who can solve problems in industrial settings. Cultivating research talents who lead key areas such as semiconductors, data centers, and physical AI, along with practical talents capable of applying AI in industrial sites, has emerged as a critical challenge.
During the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon, along with over 20 representatives from major AI companies and research institutions including NC AI, LG AI Research, Ellis Group, Iniz, and Fortitude, as well as university officials, held a signing ceremony for the 'AI Talent Cultivation Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Vision Declaration,' expressing their commitment to closely connect universities with industrial sites to jointly cultivate AI talent.
Deputy Prime Minister Bae toured university and company exhibition booths set up at the event venue, reviewed research achievements, listened directly to graduate student presentations, and exchanged opinions on research processes and outcomes.
During a subsequent roundtable discussion, industry, academia, and research representatives discussed talent competencies needed for key areas such as data centers and physical AI, the ideal profile of AI talents required by the industrial sector, and cooperation measures between universities and companies. The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to develop an 'AI Talent Cultivation Support Strategy' reflecting on-site opinions.
During the event period, keynote speeches, presentations and awards for outstanding graduate student research achievements, dialogues with senior AI big tech executives, talk shows, and book concerts will be held. Additionally, in exhibitions involving 22 universities (graduate schools) and nine companies, research achievements will be introduced, and students' career exploration will be supported through recruitment briefings, mock interviews, one-on-one consulting, and graduate school entrance counseling.
Deputy Prime Minister Bae stated, "The core of AI competition lies not only in technology development but also in securing talents who can solve problems in industrial settings," adding, "The government will continue to support universities and companies so that AI talents can pursue challenging research together."
in TECH
