NAJU — Korea Institute of Energy Technology, known as KENTECH, is moving to train specialists who will lead the energy industry's shift to artificial intelligence.
KENTECH said on the 30th that it had been selected for the AI Innovation Talent Development Program, or AX Graduate School program, run by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP).
With the selection, KENTECH will establish an Energy AX Graduate School. AX stands for AI Transformation, a concept referring to structural innovation achieved by applying artificial intelligence across industries.
Through the program, KENTECH plans to train advanced, practice-oriented AI specialists focused on energy systems such as power grids and on energy materials including secondary batteries.
Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City and the city of Naju have committed matching funds to the project. KEPCO (015760.KS) and TDL are also taking part, forming a joint research framework linking industry, academia and research institutes.
KENTECH will receive about 19 billion won ($13 million) in project funding over six years starting this year. It will use the money to develop AI curricula and build facilities for hands-on training and research.
Enrollment begins in the second semester of 2026. The project will be overseen by Kim Jong-kwon, dean of the Energy AX Graduate School and head of the Energy AI Research Institute. Sixteen KENTECH faculty members will also participate.
KENTECH aims to produce about 40 graduates a year, or roughly 250 over six years. The project, pursued under acting President Park Jin-ho, is also drawing attention as a regional innovation model combining energy and AI. Its impact on industry is expected to be significant because it connects directly to the region's core industries, including power grids, batteries and energy materials.
"The future competitiveness of the energy industry depends on the ability to use AI," a KENTECH official said. "Through the Energy AX Graduate School, we will pursue world-class research and talent development at the same time."
