UNIST will spearhead a regional industrial transformation strategy centered on AI technology in Busan.
Amid fierce global competition for AI technological supremacy, UNIST is set to inaugurate the first cohort of the ‘Busan AX (Artificial Intelligence Transformation) CEO Course‘ starting in September. The program targets CEOs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and leaders within public institutions in the Busan area.
This initiative is part of the Busan R&D Special Zone project and will be delivered by UNIST’s esteemed faculty, leveraging extensive experience in education. The program aims to expand participation beyond companies within the special zone to include industries across all of Busan, accelerating the region-wide digital transformation and AI integration.
Particularly, the curriculum is tailored around practical, on-site projects, designed to provide strategic insights immediately applicable to participating companies’ operations.
UNIST has already trained 222 companies and 340 AI professionals in the Ulsan-Gyeongnam region, enabling tangible innovations such as cost reductions and quality improvements within manufacturing sectors.
The expansion into Busan is viewed as a pivotal step toward advancing an ecosystem for AI-based technology commercialization and establishing collaborative industry-academic-research partnerships.
President Chong Rae Park stated, “AI is no longer an option but a strategic tool for survival.” He further added, “UNIST will foster AI-driven management talent within the Busan R&D Special Zone and position the region as an open innovation hub for shared growth in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam.”
The program will be supported by UNIST’s industry-academic cooperation infrastructure and the R&D Special Zone Promotion Foundation, offering comprehensive support from AI pilot planning and proof of concept (PoC) development to technology commercialization.
This initiative aligns with the government’s policies promoting regional digital transformation, the creation of a scientific and technological innovation ecosystem, and balanced regional growth. It also aims to restore the competitiveness of industries in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, serving as a model for expanding national R&D outcomes into industrial applications.
Applications are open until August 14 and can be downloaded from UNIST’s official website. Interested applicants can submit their applications via email to jh3508@unist.ac.kr.
