The Korean government announced a strategic partnership with NVIDIA and leading Korean AI companies to strengthen the nation’s AI ecosystem and capabilities. This initiative continues Korea’s commitment to global public–private AI collaboration, following earlier partnerships with BlackRock and OpenAI, and supports Korea’s vision to become one of the world’s top three AI powerhouses and the AI hub of the Asia–Pacific region.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyunghoon) will work closely with NVIDIA to secure high-performance AI infrastructure, advance Physical AI* capabilities, support AI startups, and expand collaboration with Korea’s major corporations and research institutes.
*AI that interacts with and operates in the physical world through real-world hardware—such as in manufacturing, robotics, and autonomous vehicles.
To meet surging AI infrastructure demand, Korea will secure more than 260,000 of NVIDIA’s latest GPUs. Of these, approximately 50,000 GPUs will be allocated to the public sector to support the development of sovereign AI foundation models and the establishment of the National AI Computing Center, ensuring swift and stable supply. In the private sector, more than 200,000 GPUs will enable leading companies such as Samsung, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, and NAVER to drive AI-powered manufacturing innovation and develop industry-specific AI models.
On the same day, MSIT, Hyundai Motor Group, and NVIDIA signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to position Korea as a global leader in Physical AI. The agreement covers the joint establishment and operation of AI infrastructure, such as research centers to foster Korea’s Physical AI industry; the collaborative development of technologies including autonomous mobility, AI-based smart manufacturing, and robotics; and frameworks for GPU supply and investment. MSIT will provide policy and administrative support to facilitate cooperation, while Hyundai Motor Group and NVIDIA will take the lead in infrastructure and technology cooperation in the Physical AI sector. This partnership is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Korea’s Physical AI capabilities and cultivating talent in the field.
MSIT and NVIDIA also agreed to enhance cooperation to support Korean AI startups. In particular, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS, Minister Han Seongsook) and NVIDIA discussed plans to expand the N-UP Program, which leverages global corporate infrastructure and technical and managerial expertise to help startups scale up and enter global markets. Launched in 2020, the program supported a total of 151 AI startups through 2024 and is supporting 39 companies in 2025. MSS and NVIDIA will review options to further expand the program in 2026 and strengthen support for key sectors such as Physical AI.
Plans for closer research collaboration with Korean companies and research institutes were also actively discussed. To promote technology cooperation, Centers of Excellence (CoEs) will be established, which will work together with leading domestic research institutions such as the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI). Through these CoEs, joint research will be pursued in four key areas: construction and utilization of Supercomputer No. 6 (“Hangang”), development of hybrid quantum computing environments, creation of AI foundation models essential for basic science, and advancement of GPU-accelerated computing technologies.
In addition, Samsung Electronics, Korea’s three major telecom operators (SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus), the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), and Yonsei University signed an MoU with NVIDIA to jointly research and demonstrate AI-RAN (AI Radio Access Network) technology, which integrates AI into base station communications. AI-RAN is expected to enhance the performance of Physical AI and significantly reduce battery consumption, serving as a key driver in accelerating the adoption of AI-powered services across Korea. Through this MoU, Korean industry and academia, together with NVIDIA, will jointly develop next-generation AI-RAN technologies and establish a global testbed as a platform for testing and deployment.
SK Group also discussed cooperation plans with NVIDIA on launching a Manufacturing AI Startup Alliance to revitalize Korea’s manufacturing AI ecosystem. Building on NVIDIA’s simulation and digital twin platforms, SK Group plans to establish Asia’s first enterprise-led manufacturing AI cloud, which will be open for use by the government, public institutions, and domestic startups. NAVER also expressed its commitment to enhancing competitiveness in Korea’s mobility industry through its cloud and AI technologies.
Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyunghoon stated,
“With AI now serving not only as a driver of innovation but as the very foundation for future industries, expanding infrastructure and advancing technology together with NVIDIA is a strategic investment that will further reinforce Korea’s competitiveness in manufacturing and other core sectors. As the nation’s lead authority for AI, the Ministry of Science and ICT will continue to drive global cooperation to realize Korea’s vision of becoming one of the world’s top three AI powerhouses.”