UNIST has entered into a strategic partnership with the Ulsan Regional Headquarters of the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation (hereinafter KICOX Ulsan) and the Ulsan Korea Industrial Business Association to support the adoption and practical application of AI across companies in Ulsan Industrial Complex. The agreement, concluded on January 13, outlines joint efforts to advance AX (AI transformation) across industrial sites.
At the core of the partnership is an integrated approach linking AI education, applied research, and on-site implementation. By aligning university expertise with industrial demand, the initiative aims to strengthen companies’ practical AI capabilities and enhance the overall innovation capacity of Ulsan’s industrial ecosystem.
Under the agreement, UNIST will open its AI programs at the Navatus Graduate School to employees and executives from companies in the the Ulsan Industrial Complex. These include AI courses for working professionals, executive-level programs for CEOs, and short-term specialized training, all designed for direct application in the workplace.
Employees of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) recommended by the KICOX Ulsan will be eligible for scholarship support when applying to the Navatus Graduate School, helping reduce participation costs. KICOX Ulsan and the Ulsan Korea Industrial Business Association will also support the initiative by promoting the programs and recommending candidates to broaden industry participation.
Beyond education, the partners will also collaborate on industry–academia initiatives, including applied research and pilot projects addressing on-site challenges, demand-driven AX projects, and seminars and forums to share results and promote broader AI adoption.
The agreement establishes an integrated cooperation model at the industrial-complex level, linking education, research, and on-site application within a single framework. Centered on the UNIST Navatus Graduate School, the partnership aims to cultivate practice-oriented AI talent and strengthen industry-tailored collaboration, supporting sustained AI-driven innovation across the region.
“This partnership marks a shift from simply introducing AI to embedding it in everyday industrial operations,” said Vice President Hyun Sil Ahn for Research Affairs at UNIST. “Through the UNIST Navatus Graduate School’s practice-focused education and close industry collaboration, UNIST will continue to support the expansion of AI transformation across Ulsan’s industrial sector.”
