– Call for Proposals for Industry-Academia Research Projects (Up to Six Years) – Two Universities to Be Selected

The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Yoo Sang-im, hereinafter referred to as “MSIT”) announced that it will open a Call for Proposals for the Industry-Academia Program for AI Semiconductor Talent Development (hereinafter referred to as the “AI Semiconductor Program”) from Thursday, February 13, to Thursday, March 20 (36 days in total) and plans to select two projects.

This program is a new initiative for 2025, launched in accordance with the AI-Semiconductor Initiative (April 2024), which outlines strategies for technological innovation, ecosystem development, and talent cultivation in the AI semiconductor sector. Under this program, leading domestic AI semiconductor companies and universities will collaborate to design research and education programs that reflect industry demand, and each project will involve 20 master’s and doctoral students per year (10 students in the first year, 2025).

The two selected projects will each receive an annual budget of KRW 2 billion (KRW 1 billion in the first year) for up to six years (3+3 years), and the universities carrying out the projects will be required to establish and operate an AI Semiconductor Innovation Research Institute.

In particular, to strengthen industry-academia collaboration, a university faculty member with at least seven years of industry experience will be selected as the principal investigator (director) of each institute. Additionally, each institute will establish three research centers, each dedicated to a different project. These centers will provide an environment where faculty with industry experience, partner companies, and master’s and doctoral students can take the lead in research.

Master’s and doctoral students participating in the projects will:

• Conduct joint research with companies under the guidance of research center directors
• Complete technical training programs led by industry professionals
• Take part in corporate internships and research placement programs

Through these diverse research and education programs, students are expected to develop into highly skilled, industry-ready professionals capable of driving innovation in the AI semiconductor sector.

Meanwhile, MSIT has been continuously working to broaden the talent pipeline in the AI semiconductor field in response to the growing demand for highly skilled professionals. The ministry has implemented several initiatives, including:

• AI Semiconductor Graduate Schools (3 universities, 90 students per year): Specialized programs to enhance expertise in AI semiconductor and software design.
• University ICT Research Centers (6 AI semiconductor centers, 220 students per year): Supporting cutting-edge research projects in promising ICT fields.
• Integrated Bachelor’s-Master’s ICT Talent Development Program (2 AI semiconductor projects, 20 students per year): Industry-academia joint research and education programs aimed at fostering practical problem-solving skills.

With the addition of this newly launched program, MSIT aims to train more than 370 AI semiconductor specialists annually.

Additionally, MSIT is making efforts to address workforce shortages in the AI semiconductor industry by supporting job placement programs for job seekers, undergraduate students, and graduate students.

Jeon Young-soo, Director General for ICT Industry Policy at MSIT, stated, “To lead the AI transformation era, we must unite the strengths of the AI semiconductor industry and academia to cultivate world-class talent capable of spearheading technological advancements and market leadership. MSIT will provide full support to ensure that young master’s and doctoral students develop into top-tier experts through pioneering research and industry-linked programs.”

Detailed information on the Call for Proposals can be found on the official websites of MSIT (www.msit.go.kr), the Integrated R&D Information System (www.iris.go.kr), and the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) (www.iitp.kr).

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Press Releases – 과학기술정보통신부 >, 12 February. 2025