The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is joining hands with Nvidia to establish a joint research lab with an investment of $300 million (about 420 billion won). The two sides will build a long-term research and development (R&D) cooperation framework aimed at securing domestic core AI technologies, developing global talent, and strengthening industrial competitiveness.
KAIST said on the 24th that it will establish the "Nvidia-KAIST AI Joint Research Center" at the Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI with Nvidia and begin joint research on next-generation core artificial intelligence technologies in earnest.
The two institutions agreed to jointly develop agentic AI models and AI agent systems specialized for the Korean language and domestic industries. They plan to combine Nvidia's full-stack AI technology, Nvidia's open AI model Nemotron, and the latest AI computing infrastructure of domestic Nvidia cloud partners with KAIST's world-class research personnel.
The cooperation will be pursued at a total scale of $300 million over an initial five years. AI computing resources worth $50 million will be provided each year. The joint research center will support at least 10 KAIST researchers annually and provide each supported researcher with an Nvidia internship opportunity. Nvidia plans to hire outstanding Korean AI researchers as full-time research staff.
The joint research center will be established at the Seoul campus of the Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI. Its main research areas include agentic AI models and agent systems, large-scale AI models optimized for the Korean language, AI models specialized by domestic industry, next-generation AI with reasoning and planning capabilities, cooperation and verification technologies among multiple AI agents, and the application of academic research achievements to corporate, public, and national AI systems.
The head of the joint research center will be Dr. Kim Hyun-woo of Nvidia, who is joining the Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI at KAIST. Professor Kim will set the research direction of the joint research center and oversee joint research between KAIST researchers and Nvidia's global research organization. KAIST President Bae Choong-sik stressed, "This cooperation is the starting point of a strategic partnership that combines world-class AI research capabilities with cutting-edge AI infrastructure," adding, "We will build a global AI research hub representing Korea and take the lead in securing next-generation core AI technologies and developing world-class AI talent."
Bill Dally, Nvidia's chief scientist and senior vice president of research, said, "Korea has world-class AI researchers and one of the most advanced technology ecosystems in the world," adding, "The joint research center will accelerate the development of AI models and agent systems for Korea's industries, language, and future, and become a foundation for pioneering next-generation AI research."
