UNIST and Korea Zinc Train 291 AI Specialists to Advance Smart Smelting Operations

UNIST and Korea Zinc Co., Ltd. have completed a four-month industry-focused AI training program, graduating 291 employees as applied AI specialists to support Korea Zinc’s transition toward a data-driven smart smelting operation.

The UNIST × Korea Zinc AI Novatus Academia program was developed to strengthen practical AI capabilities within industrial settings. Conducted from September to January, the program enrolled 291 employees across 10 cohorts, each completing a structured seven-session curriculum combining foundational AI theory with hands-on industrial application.

Participants worked directly with real refinery process data to identify operational challenges and design AI-based solutions. The program generated 32 field-ready innovation proposals, seven of which were recognized as outstanding following faculty evaluation.

Proposed applications included abnormal operation detection in environmental control systems, predictive maintenance models for critical equipment, AI-driven quality forecasting, and performance diagnostics for gas turbines. Collectively, the projects aim to enhance process efficiency, improve safety management, and strengthen quality control through advanced data analytics.

UNIST President Chong Rae Park delivers remarks during the completion ceremony of the UNIST × Korea Zinc AI Novatus Academia program.

“This program is especially meaningful because those who understand the field best defined the challenges and developed AI-based solutions themselves,” said President Chong Rae Park of UNIST. “UNIST will continue expanding industry-tailored education models that connect learning, research, and real-world implementation to deliver measurable impact.”

Seung Hyun Kim, Head of the Onsan Refinery at Korea Zinc, emphasized the strategic importance of workforce capability. “Embedding data-driven problem-solving into our operations is essential to realizing a smart smelter,” he said. “We will build on this program to further integrate AI into our organizational culture and accelerate process innovation.”

Moving forward, UNIST and Korea Zinc plan to deepen collaboration through joint research, applied industrial projects, and technical advisory initiatives, strengthening a university–industry partnership model that advances AI transformation in manufacturing.