President Park’s Next Goal: AI Transformation of Manufacturing in Korea’s Southeastern Industrial Hub

President Chong Rae Park of UNIST often points to his rural roots in Gyeongsangnam-do when describing the values that shaped him. Although he graduated from Seoul National University and later worked there, he says his perspective was formed during his school years in the region. Today, his trademark work attire—a jacket bearing the UNIST logo— reflects his pride in leading a university that aims to drive innovation not only in academia but also across regional industry.

Since assuming office, President Park has consistently advocated for ‘AI-driven innovation’ as a central strategy for UNIST. l Image Credit: Hello DD

UNIST is advancing a vision that connects cutting-edge academic research with real-world industrial transformation, positioning the university as a key driver of AI innovation for South Korea’s manufacturing sector.

Through an interview with Daeduck Net, President Chong Rae Park outlined UNIST’s strategy to help modernize the manufacturing ecosystem of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (BUG) region through AI technologies, while strengthening the university’s role as a catalyst for regional innovation.

President Park emphasized that the university must move beyond producing world-class research and ensure that its scientific breakthroughs translate into real industrial impact.

“Our research excellence has already been proven globally, yet the lack of connection with industry has been a long-standing challenge,” President Park said. “The next step is ensuring that these discoveries move beyond the laboratory and create real impact in industry and society.”

Bridging Research and Industry through AI

Since taking office, President Park has emphasized AI-driven innovation as a core strategy for UNIST. Located in Ulsan—Korea’s largest heavy industrial city and home to major automotive, shipbuilding, offshore engineering, and petrochemical industries—the university is uniquely positioned to support the digital transformation of these sectors.

President Park refers to this approach as the ‘Tech Bridge‘ strategy, which connects academic research capabilities with the practical needs of industry.

“Ulsan possesses tremendous industrial assets through its national industrial complexes,” President Park said. “By integrating AI technologies tailored to the region’s industrial strengths, we can significantly enhance the competitiveness of local industries.”

UNIST’s research excellence is widely recognized internationally. In the 2025 Leiden Ranking, which evaluates the quality of scientific publications, UNIST ranked first among Korean universities for nine consecutive years. However, President Park believes the university must now focus on translating research excellence into broader societal impact.

UNIST ranked No. 1 nationwide in the ‘2025 Leiden Ranking Traditional Edition,’ marking an unbroken nine-year steak. l Image Credit: CTWS Leiden Ranking

Supporting Manufacturing Innovation Through AI

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping global manufacturing, and UNIST is expanding partnerships with industry leaders to support this transition.

The university has launched a collaboration with HD Hyundai to develop AI technologies for the shipbuilding and maritime industries. It is also partnering with the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) to apply AI technologies to improve operational intelligence across energy systems. These collaborations aim to integrate AI technologies into industrial operations, improving efficiency, safety, and productivity.

The MOU signing ceremony between UNIST and HD Hyundai Group took place at the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center (GRC) in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on November 20, 2025.

To further strengthen collaboration between researchers and companies, UNIST launched the inaugural Ulsan Innovation Forum, a platform designed to bring together scientists, engineers, and industry leaders to explore AI-driven industrial transformation. The first forum was held successfully last year, with a second edition planned for this year.

“Researchers and business leaders need opportunities to meet and collaborate frequently. That is how we close the gap between discovery and application,” President Park said.

The inaugural ‘2025 Future Energy Innovation Forum’ in the Main Administration of UNIST on September 16, 2025.

UNIST’s Tech Bridge strategy also focuses on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the regional supply chain.

Ulsan’s industrial ecosystem is built around major corporations supported by extensive supplier networks. Historically, many smaller firms had limited access to research and development capabilities.

To address this challenge, UNIST has opened its research infrastructure to industry partners through open laboratories for collaborative R&D, access to the UNIST Supercomputing Center, as well as the shared use of advanced research equipment and prototyping facilities. These resources provide companies with a one-stop platform for analysis, validation, prototype development, and commercialization.

“In many cases, regional SMEs operate within large supply chains and have limited R&D capacity,” President Park explained. “Our goal is to become the brain that supports these companies—helping them adopt advanced technologies and innovate.”

Expanding AI-Driven Innovation Across the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Region

UNIST’s vision extends beyond Ulsan to the broader Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam region, which represents one of Korea’s largest manufacturing clusters.

The university aims to serve as the central AI innovation hub for the southeastern region of Korea, helping regional industries adopt advanced technologies. A key component of this strategy is the UNIST Novatus Graduate School, established in 2025 to provide advanced education for working professionals in emerging technologies.

Through the UNIST Novatus Graduate School, UNIST offers programs designed to help industry professionals integrate AI into real-world industrial environments.

“Our goal is to ensure that AI transformation spreads across the region and becomes a practical tool for industry, not just a concept,” President Park said.

The opening ceremony for the Novatus Graduate School took place at the Pioneers Campus on September 3, 2025.

Beyond Nobel Prizes—Nurturing Pioneer-Driven, Nobel-Caliber Talent

Looking ahead, President Park believes universities must focus not only on academic achievement, but also on cultivating insight, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking.

President Park stressed the importance of nurturing future leaders who can navigate rapid technological change, noting “Rather than simply producing Nobel Prize winners, we must cultivate people like Alfred Nobel—innovators who connect scientific discovery with industry and society.”

To achieve this, UNIST is exploring new methods to evaluate teaching effectiveness and student development, focusing on whether education prepares students to thrive in an era of rapid technological transformation.

Diagram of the UNIAI system configuration. | Image Credit: IT Strategy Team

UNIST is also advancing its ‘AI-Powered Campus‘ initiative. In November 2025, UNIST launched UNIAI, Korea’s first generative-AI platform developed internally by a university. The system provides chatbot-based assistance for navigating complex campus regulations and administrative processes. AI has already improved operational efficiency across the universit—for example, reducing the review time for technology-transfer contracts from one month to a single day.

“Universities must lead by example,” President Park said. “By embedding AI in our own operations and education, we can drive broader innovation in both academia and industry.”

《Editor’s Note: This article is based on an interview with President Chong Rae Park of UNIST, originally published by Daeduck Net (Hello DD.com) on February 25, 2026, under the title “From Research Excellence to Regional Impact: President Park’s Vision for AI-Driven Transformation of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Manufacturing Hub.“》