Hanwha Teams With Regional Universities to Train AI, Aerospace Talent

Hanwha (000880.KS) is partnering with three regional national universities in southeastern Korea to train talent in artificial intelligence (AI) and aerospace. The move aims to develop skilled workers to support the 55 trillion won ($39.6 billion) investment plan for the Yeongnam region that Kim Dong-kwan, vice chairman of Hanwha Group, announced last month.

At that time, Kim said that a true industrial ecosystem, as Hanwha envisions it, is a virtuous cycle in which regional talent learns in the region, regional companies take on global markets, and regional industries lead the future of South Korea.

Hanwha Aerospace (012450.KS), Hanwha Ocean (042660.KS) and Hanwha Engine signed an agreement on regional talent development for southeastern Korea with Gyeongsang National University, Pusan National University and Changwon National University in South Gyeongsang Province on the 12th. The signing ceremony was held at the R&D center of Hanwha Aerospace's Plant 3 in Changwon and was attended by South Gyeongsang Governor Park Wan-su, Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, Gyeongsang National University President Kwon Jin-hoi, Pusan National University President Choi Jae-won, Changwon National University President Park Min-won, Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il, Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-cheol and Hanwha Engine CEO Kim Jong-seo.

Under the agreement, Pusan National University will establish a Hanwha-sponsored contract department, tentatively named the Department of Advanced Mechanical Systems Engineering, and expand customized R&D cooperation. Gyeongsang National University and Changwon National University plan to run contract-quota master's programs to intensively cultivate AI talent. Selected students will receive tuition support, living allowances and internship opportunities. After graduation, they can join Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Ocean or Hanwha Engine through a separate process.

Hanwha will also run field-oriented education programs, special lectures and seminars with these universities and pursue joint research and technology exchanges. The company will continue to expand the "Hanwha Aerospace Hub," an industry-academia cooperation network it has been broadening since 2023.

Park, the South Gyeongsang governor, said the agreement carries great significance because it goes beyond companies, universities and local governments cooperating simply to expand hiring, with the public, private and academic sectors together preparing the future talent ecosystem of the southeastern region, a hub of South Korea's advanced manufacturing innovation. Jeon, the Busan mayor, stressed that the city will strongly support the actual curricula, joint research and hiring so that a new growth axis can be created at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula and serve as a stepping stone for South Korea to move toward a two- or three-pole system.

In response, Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-cheol said he was sincerely grateful to the government, local governments and universities that had joined forces to nurture talent that will take responsibility for the region's future, adding that Hanwha will continue to be a reliable partner that grows together with the region and builds the future.