KAIST

<(From Left) Professor Inkyu Park, Dr. Seokjoo Cho, (Upper Right, From Left) Professor Ji-Hwan Ha, Researcher Junho Jeong , Professor Wei Gao> “Diabetic ulcers,” which occur in patients with diabetes, are dangerous complications that can lead to amputation if the treatment window is missed. A joint research team has developed a “smart dressing patch” that can monitor wound conditions in real time. KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 14th of May that a research team led by Distinguished Professor Inkyu Park of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, through joint research with Professor Ji-Hwan Ha of Hanbat National University (President Yongjun Oh), researcher Junho Jeong of the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (President Seog-Hyeon Ryu), and Professor Wei Gao of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech; President Thomas F. Rosenbaum) in the United States, has developed a “wireless, battery-free optoelectronic multi-modal sensor patch” for diabetic ulcer management. The patch developed by the research team combines an optoelectronic sensor, which can simultaneously measure multiple types of biological information, with a functional dressing. It can analyze glucose concentration, acidity (pH, an indicator of hydrogen ion concentration), and temperature changes at the wound site in real time, and patients can check their condition themselves using a smartphone. The research team fabricated a functional nanofiber dressing using electrospinning, a method that uses an electric field to create fibers much thinner than a human hair. This dressing changes color in response to increased glucose and changes in acidity that appear in diabetic foot wounds. In other words, if the wound condition worsens, the dressing color changes, allowing danger signals to be easily checked with the naked eye. Through this, abnormal signs that could lead to tissue necrosis can be detected and tracked over long periods in a non-invasive manner, meaning without cutting the skin or drawing blood. The research team combined this with an optoelectronic system to improve diagnostic accuracy. A light-emitting diode (LED, a semiconductor device that converts electricity into light) embedded in the patch and a photodiode, a semiconductor sensor that detects light, measure the color change of the dressing as light reflectance and then convert it into an electrical signal. This provides more accurate and stable data than ordinary camera-based imaging because it is less affected by changes in surrounding lighting. In particular, the patch operates without a separate battery by applying a flexible circuit based on near field communication (NFC), a wireless communication technology that exchanges data over short distances. When a smartphone is placed near the sensor, the patch receives power wirelessly and operates, transmitting the measured data in real time. In other words, patients and medical staff can immediately check and respond to wound conditions using only a smartphone app, without separate complex equipment. < Conceptual Diagram of a Multimodal Colorimetric Dressing and Optoelectronic Sensor for Diagnosing Diabetic Foot and Diabetic Diseases > The technology developed in this study has high clinical value because it provides both intuitive visual signals and quantitative electronic data while imposing no physical burden on patients. It is also expected to contribute to improving the quality of life of patients with diabetes by enabling continuous wound management without repeated blood sampling. Distinguished Professor Inkyu Park stated, “Research that began to reduce the pain of diabetic patients who have to prick their fingers with a needle every day has led to a technology for the preemptive diagnosis of complications,” adding, “This technology will become a core platform technology that can be expanded in the future to blood-free diagnostic technologies not only for diabetes but also for various chronic diseases.” In this study, KAIST Dr. Seokjoo Cho and Professor Ji-Hwan Ha of Hanbat National University participated as co-first authors. The research results were published on March 26, 2026, in the international materials science journal Advanced Functional Materials. The paper was also selected as a Front Cover article of the journal.  ※ Paper title: “Wireless, Battery-Free, Optoelectronic, Multi-Modal Sensor Integrated With Colorimetric Dressing for Diabetic Ulcer Management,” DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202532167 < Front Cover Image > This research was supported by the Mid-Career Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Alchemist Project of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Daejeon RISE Center.    

< (From left) Ph.D. student Hanbin Cho, Postdoctoral Researcher Wenxuan Zhu, Professor Joonki Suh, and MS-PhD integrated student Changhwan Kim >  A technology that surpasses the limitations of existing sensors, which failed to distinguish between water and asphalt on dark roads, has emerged to enhance the accuracy of autonomous driving and medical diagnostics. Our university's research team has developed a next-generation polarization sensor that can read the "direction" of light and change its own response. KAIST announced on May 12th that a research team led by Professor Joonki Suh from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has developed a "self-reconfigurable" polarization sensor array technology that regulates its operation by finding the optimal state using "polarization" information—the property of light vibrating in a specific direction. With the recent explosive increase in data and the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, the need for next-generation vision systems that can efficiently process vast amounts of information with low energy is growing. However, existing image sensors only detect the intensity (brightness) of light, limiting their ability to precisely grasp the orientation or surface structure of objects. To overcome these limitations, the research team developed a polarization-based sensor technology capable of recognizing the vibration direction of light. In particular, by utilizing a "heterostructure" that combines two different materials—tellurium (Te) and rhenium disulfide (ReS₂)—they effectively implemented characteristics where the response to light varies depending on the crystal orientation. < Conceptual diagram of self-reconfigurable polarization sensor and in-sensor computing based on dual-anisotropy vdW heterostructures >  To precisely stack the two materials so they cross each other, the research team applied "Epitaxial Atomic Layer Deposition," a process that controls crystal structures by stacking materials precisely at the atomic layer level. By ensuring the crystal structures of the two materials interlock accurately, they secured higher reproducibility and stable performance compared to previous methods. In this structure, when light is irradiated, interfacial carrier transfer and trapping (a phenomenon where electrons move or stay at specific locations) occur at the material boundary. As a result, a "bipolar photoresponse"—a light-induced reaction where the current direction flips depending on conditions such as light intensity, wavelength, and direction—appears. A key feature is that the sensor's operating state can be freely adjusted using only light, without external electrical signals. Furthermore, this technology can be applied to "in-sensor computing" structures where the sensor itself processes data, allowing for the efficient processing of multi-dimensional optical information that changes over time without complex calculation processes. In actual experiments, it recorded a high accuracy of over 95% in recognizing moving objects, proving its potential for applications in various fields such as autonomous driving and medical diagnosis. < Experimental image of a polarization AI sensor platform capable of light-based operational reconfiguration (AI-generated image) >  Professor Joonki Suh stated, "This research presents a new foundation for AI vision technology that can secure richer visual information by utilizing polarization information. It is expected to play an important role in implementing low-power, high-efficiency AI systems in the future." Wenxuan Zhu (Postdoctoral Researcher) and Changhwan Kim (Ph.D. student) participated as first authors in this study, with Professor Joonki Suh participating as the corresponding author. The research results were published on April 14 in the international academic journal Nature Sensors. Paper Title: Self-reconfigurable polarization perception in dual-anisotropy heterostructures for high-dimensional in-sensor computing Authors: Wenxuan Zhu, Changhwan Kim, Ruofan Zhang, Mingchun Lu, Namwook Hur, Hanbin Cho, Jihyun Kim, Jiacheng Sun, Joohoon Kang, Junchi Yan, Yuan Cheng & Joonki Suh DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44460-026-00057-9 < Paper portfolio and QR code >  Meanwhile, this research was conducted with the support of the PIM AI Semiconductor Core Technology Development (Device) Project and the Individual Basic Research Project of the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Industrial Innovation Talent Growth Support Project of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT).  

<(From Left) Prof. Jungwon Kim, Dr. Changmin Ahn> Researchers at KAIST have demonstrated a chip-scale photonic approach for generating ultralow-noise and highly stable microwave and millimeter-wave signals based on optical frequency combs (microcombs), offering a potential pathway toward compact, high-performance frequency sources for next-generation technologies. High-frequency signals in the tens to hundreds of gigahertz range are essential for emerging applications such as 6G communications, radar, and precision sensing. However, achieving both low noise and high stability at these frequencies remains a fundamental challenge for conventional electronic signal sources. In the first study, the researchers addressed the long-standing challenge of transferring the stability of an optical reference to a microcomb. Direct stabilization is difficult due to the lack of carrier-envelope offset detection in high-repetition-rate microcombs. To overcome this, they used a mode-locked laser as a transfer oscillator and synchronized it to the microcomb using electro-optic sampling. This approach enabled direct and robust transfer of optical-reference stability to the microcomb repetition rate, achieving fractional frequency stability at the 10-18 level and a phase noise of -125 dBc/Hz at 100 Hz offset from a 22 GHz carrier, representing state-of-the-art performance and more than 80 dB improvement over the free-running microcomb in the low-offset-frequency regime. In the second study, the team addressed the degradation of noise performance typically observed when scaling microcombs to higher repetition rates. While microcombs with lower repetition rates (large resonators) exhibit better noise characteristics, increasing the repetition rate generally leads to performance degradation. The researchers showed that this limitation can be overcome using perfect soliton crystal (PSC) states, which enable repetition-rate multiplication while preserving the low-noise characteristics of the original comb. As a result, they generated millimeter-wave signals at 44 GHz and 66 GHz with timing jitter on the order of 3 femtoseconds, demonstrating that the low-noise performance of a microwave-rate microcomb can be preserved during scaling to millimeter-wave frequencies. <Ultra-compact optical resonator chip with noise suppression based on an optical reference signal and increased frequency via fully solitonic waves (AI-generated image)> Together, these results establish two key capabilities: (1) high-fidelity transfer of optical-reference stability to chip-scale microcombs, and (2) preservation of low-noise performance during frequency scaling to millimeter-wave regimes. This combined capability provides a practical route toward compact photonic signal sources that integrate optical-level stability with high-frequency operation. The research was led by Dr. Changmin Ahn and Prof. Jungwon Kim at KAIST, in collaboration with Prof. Hansuek Lee. The results were published in Laser & Photonics Reviews and Optica. ·         Optical-to-microcomb stability transfer for ultrastable timing and microwave/millimeter-wave generation (DOI: 10.1002/lpor.71135) ·         Preserving ultralow timing jitter in microcombs with repetition-rate multiplication via perfect soliton crystal formation (DOI: 10.1364/OPTICA.581054)

< (From left) Professor Seungbum Hong, Ph.D candidate Seonghyun Kim, Dr. Youngwoo Choi, and Dr. Yoonhan Cho > A crucial clue to simultaneously increasing electric vehicle (EV) driving range and battery lifespan has been discovered. A research team at our university has observed the exact moment of degradation in lithium metal batteries at the nanoscale (approximately 1/100,000th the thickness of a human hair) and identified the fundamental cause of performance decline. This is evaluated as a significant turning point in accelerating the commercialization of next-generation batteries. KAIST announced on May 10th that a research team led by Professor Seungbum Hong from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has identified the degradation mechanism of the lithium metal anode, a core component of next-generation batteries. Lithium metal is dubbed a "dream battery material" due to its significantly higher energy density compared to conventional batteries. However, the rapid decline in performance after repeated charge and discharge cycles has been the biggest obstacle to commercialization. In particular, when lithium is deposited or stripped irregularly, it can form "dead lithium"—lithium that is electrically disconnected—which leads to performance degradation and poses safety risks. The research team utilized in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM), which allows for real-time observation of the battery interior, to track the entire process of lithium deposition (plating) and removal (stripping). As a result, they confirmed that the lithium reaction does not occur uniformly across the entire surface but occurs selectively at specific locations. <Overview of the EC-AFM Measurement Process> Specifically, in porous regions with rough surfaces, voids were easily formed when lithium was stripped away, leading to the creation of "dead lithium" that becomes electrically isolated. This phenomenon acts as a direct cause of the sudden decline in battery performance. The significance of this study lies in experimentally identifying where and how lithium metal batteries are damaged. Furthermore, it proved that the "initial morphology," where lithium is first formed, is a key variable that determines the long-term lifespan of the battery. <Height Maps and Surface Slope Maps During the 1st–3rd Plating/Stripping Processes> Accordingly, it is expected that if the surface where lithium forms is controlled uniformly and precisely in the future, battery life and stability can be dramatically improved. This suggests a design direction that can simultaneously achieve increased EV driving range and the development of long-life batteries. Professor Seungbum Hong stated, "This research is highly significant as it directly confirmed the cause of battery performance degradation at the nanoscale. It will serve as an important foundation for developing safer and longer-lasting next-generation batteries." Seonghyun Kim, a PhD student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, participated as the lead author. The study was published on February 24, 2026, in ACS Energy Letters, a prestigious international academic journal in the fields of materials science, chemistry, and chemical engineering, and was selected as a cover article. ※ Paper Title: Spatially Selective Lithium Plating and Stripping in Lithium Metal Anodes, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.6c00122 < Photo of Selection as ACS Energy Letters Cover Paper > Meanwhile, this research was conducted with support from LG Energy Solution and the Future Pioneering Convergence Science and Technology Development Program (RS-2023-00247245) of the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT.

<(From Left) Ph.D candidate Jeesoo Yoon, Dr. Jinwon Oh, Professor Hee-Tae Jung, Professor Matteo Cargnello> A KAIST and Stanford University joint research team revealed research results that overturn long-standing beliefs in the field of nanomaterials. Contrary to the conventional perception that mixing more metals complicates the system, this study revealed for the first time that complex compositions actually create more uniform nanoparticles, signaling a new turning point for next-generation energy and catalysis technology. KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced that a joint research team led by distinguished professor Hee-Tae Jung from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Professor Matteo Cargnello from Stanford University has identified a paradoxical phenomenon where mixing more metals leads to the formation of more uniform nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are core materials in various industries such as semiconductors, eco-friendly energy, and biotechnology. However, as the number of constituent elements increases, the different reaction rates of each element cause variations in particle size and shape, which has been considered a major challenge for precision control. The research team focused on composition-focusing, a phenomenon where the particle components converge in one direction and become more uniform as the number of metal elements increases. <Figure 1. (Top) Increasing number of possible product metal combinations (Bottom) Composition-focusing behavior>    The research confirmed that during the competitive bonding process of different metal atoms, the atoms that settle first act as a stepping stone, helping subsequent atoms attach more easily. Consequently, instead of mixing randomly, the atoms stack orderly in layers to form a stable structure. This phenomenon is a significant discovery, showing that the complex chemical reaction environment – previously viewed as a hurdle – actually helps atoms achieve an organized structure. <Figure 2. (Top) Formation mechanism of five-element nanoparticles, (Bottom) comparison of catalytic performance> To verify this principle, the team produced a multimetallic nanoparticle catalyst containing five different metals. In the reaction of decomposing ammonia to produce hydrogen – which requires high temperatures and high-performance catalysts – the new material showed four-times higher efficiency than the ruthenium catalyst, the current industrial standard. Distinguished professor Hee-Tae Jung stated: This research is significant in that it discovered an unexpected paradoxical phenomenon and identified its operating principle. By utilizing this principle, we can design metal compositions tailored to desired performance, which is expected to be used in developing high-performance catalysts and eco-friendly energy materials for processes like hydrogen production and carbon dioxide conversion.   <Figure 3. Schematic illustration of multicomponent nanoparticle formation>   Jeesoo Yoon, a PhD candidate at KAIST, and Dr. Jinwon Oh from Stanford University participated as co-first authors of this study. The research was led by Distinguished Professor Hee-Tae Jung of KAIST and Professor Matteo Cargnello of Stanford University as co-corresponding authors. BASF (Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik) and Seoul National University also participated in the joint research. The findings were published in the world-renowned academic journal Science on May 7th. ※ Title: Competitive reactivity drives size- and composition-focusing in multimetallic nanocrystals ※ DOI: 10.1126/science.aea8044 This research was conducted with the support from the National Research Foundation, the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning, and BASF. 

KAIST announced that it will host the ‘AI Agent-Based Solopreneurship Program Information Session’ and the ‘Entrepreneurial Mutual Growth Fair 2026’ for two days from May 18th to 19th.  In this event, KAIST’s new AI-based solopreneurship model, which utilizes AI not merely as an operational tool but as a ‘Co-founder,’ will be introduced in depth. The university will hold an information session for the ‘AI Solopreneur Support Project,’ which enables a single individual to carry out the entire entrepreneurial process—including planning, development, marketing, and fundraising—using AI agents prepared by the university.  In this program, 100 prospective entrepreneurs will be selected nationwide, and faculty from the KAIST Institute for Entrepreneurship and the KAIST Graduate School of AI will provide eight weeks of intensive training. Additionally, a network of top-tier domestic and global mentors will be established to support business optimization and linkage with overseas investments.  In particular, outstanding teams will be provided with seed investment of up to 100 million KRW, prototype production support, and infrastructure for GPU and AI services. By fostering world-class AI utilization skills in prospective entrepreneurs with diverse domain knowledge, KAIST plans to accelerate the introduction of AI into various domestic industries while nurturing AI business models with global competitiveness.  This event is organized as a venue to introduce the KAIST-style full-cycle entrepreneurial ecosystem, encompassing artificial intelligence (AI)-based entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, industry-academic cooperation, investment linkage, and youth job creation. In particular, it will showcase the competitiveness of the deep-tech (advanced technology-based) startup ecosystem from multiple perspectives, focusing on the technological prowess and industrial application cases of KAIST startup companies.  Global big tech companies' choice of AI solution providers will also participate to reveal various technologies reflecting the AX (AI Transformation) trend across industries. Actual application cases that supported the digital transformation of major domestic corporations through factory and office automation solutions will also be announced.  In the field of robotics, Lion Robotics will introduce field-application technologies based on quadruped robots and leading R&D cases for humanoid robots. In addition, next-generation AI semiconductor startups such as Panmnesia and HyperAccel will present next-generation chip design technologies for implementing On-Device AI. These companies will showcase technologies and business models that can run Large Language Model (LLM)-based AI services faster while reducing dependence on GPUs (Graphics Processing Units). In the deep-tech bio and healthcare AI field, Barreleye will introduce an innovative solution that complements the limitations of traditional MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)-centered diagnosis through AI-based quantitative ultrasound analysis technology. In the bio and medical robot field, Roen Surgical will present next-generation medical innovation cases based on precision surgical robot technology.  On the first day of the event, May 18th, the ‘Entrepreneurial Mutual Growth Fair’ will be held in the main hall on the 1st floor of the KI Building along with the ‘AI Agent-Based Solopreneurship Program Information Session.’ Representative startup companies that have led KAIST’s technology commercialization success will participate in this session to share successful technology commercialization models that connected R&D achievements to actual market results.  Through this, they plan to present a virtuous cycle for the KAIST startup ecosystem leading from ‘Research → Startup → Investment → Growth.’ Furthermore, KAIST startup companies will operate recruitment sessions alongside technology exhibitions. Participating companies will conduct direct recruitment consultations and talent discovery on-site, providing youth with high-quality, technology-based job opportunities. Through this event, the university plans to support scientific and technological talents so they can advance into startups and industrial fields rather than staying in research, and to lead technology-based entrepreneurship and employment creation. On the second day, May 19th, an ‘Open Innovation Information Session’ will be held to connect KAIST’s research capabilities with industrial demand.  At the event, the ‘1 Lab N Startup’ model, which connects KAIST faculty’s technology with corporate R&D needs to promote joint research and commercialization, will be introduced. Industry-academic cooperation strategies that expand beyond technology transfer to joint entrepreneurship and new business creation will also be announced. Following this, in the ‘KAIST Startup Investment Linkage IR Pitching Session,’ the investment attraction program ‘Tech Plaza’ will be operated, featuring five Korean deep-tech bio companies. Companies selected based on the KAIST Startup Platform (KSTP) will present their business models and technological prowess to investors, and tangible investment results are expected through linkage with venture capital (VC) and accelerators. Bae Hyeon-min, Dean of the KAIST Institute for Entrepreneurship, said, “This Entrepreneurial Mutual Growth Fair is an integrated startup platform that connects the entire process from AI-based individual entrepreneurship to technology commercialization, industry-academic cooperation, investment, and job creation.  We expect it to serve as an opportunity to present a new direction for the domestic deep-tech startup ecosystem through the success stories of KAIST’s representative startups.” This event is open to students, the general public, corporations, and investment institutions interested in entrepreneurship, and is prepared as a place to directly confirm the innovative achievements and expansion possibilities of the KAIST startup ecosystem. Information regarding the KAIST AI Solopreneurship Program information session and participation applications can be found on the website (https://www.kaist-overedge.com/).  By accessing the website, people can watch the information session on YouTube and apply for participation.

< Science Diplomacy Forum Poster >  KAIST announced that it has officially launched the ‘KAIST Center for Science Diplomacy (KCSD),’ connecting science and technology with diplomacy, and is holding a global forum on May 13th to commemorate the occasion. Through the Center for Science Diplomacy, our university plans to promote the securing of technological sovereignty and the strengthening of global cooperation, contributing to the resolution of common human challenges such as the climate crisis, aging populations, energy, and digital transformation. This forum was organized to present the strategic direction and execution vision for science diplomacy that South Korea should pursue amidst the intensifying global competition for technological hegemony. In particular, in a situation where the international order is being reshaped around AI and quantum technology, the center will discuss international cooperation and joint response measures with ambassadors from various countries. The forum will begin with an opening address by Bong-kwan Jun, Director of the KAIST Center for Science Diplomacy, and welcoming remarks by President Kwang-hyung Lee. Following this, Jin Park, a visiting professor, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chair of the Center’s Advisory Committee, will deliver a keynote speech on the topic of ‘The Importance of Science Diplomacy and Future Strategies in the AI Era.’ Professor Jin Park will suggest the roles of South Korea and KAIST in building international trust and achieving common prosperity in an era where technological competition and cooperation coexist. In the subsequent roundtable, attending ambassadors and charges d'affaires from various countries will participate in discussions on the themes of ▲‘Science Diplomacy in the AI Era: Strategies for Technological Sovereignty and Global Cooperation’ and ▲‘Scientific Cooperation for a Sustainable Future: Partnerships for Health, Aging, and Coexistence.’ Participants will exchange views on how each country can secure technological competitiveness and security amidst the changes in industrial and social structures brought about by the AI revolution, while also establishing international norms and platforms for cooperation. Furthermore, they will share cases from countries that have experienced aging societies ahead of others and discuss international cooperation models and global standard-setting measures for innovation in health and medical systems and improving the quality of life for the elderly. In addition, Rainer Wessely, Counselor of the EU Delegation to Korea, will introduce cases of the European Union’s education exchange program ‘Erasmus’ and the research and innovation support program ‘Horizon Europe.’ He will also explore cooperation models for science, technology, and higher education with Asian and African countries, along with strategies for the expansion of the ‘K-Science and Technology Education Model.’ Ambassadors from major countries and organizations, including the EU, Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Philippines, Thailand, Hungary, Mongolia, and Tanzania, have expressed their intent to attend this forum. Deputy ambassadors and officials from the embassies of Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands will also participate, with discussions currently ongoing with additional countries. From our university, experts in AI, aerospace, medical science, and international cooperation will participate as advisory members to engage in in-depth discussions with the ambassadors regarding KAIST's role as a science diplomacy platform for mitigating technological gaps and promoting global cooperation, as well as the policy directions of major nations. KAIST President Kwang-hyung Lee stated, “Science and technology have now moved beyond being simple policy tools to becoming a core engine for building trust between nations and solving the collective problems of humanity.” He added, “We will actively support the KAIST Center for Science Diplomacy so that it can establish itself as a leading platform for global science and technology cooperation.” Meanwhile, this forum is open to anyone free of charge, and registration is available via the online link (https://forms.gle/YCCr8pqkjJr7HahQ7).

< KAIST Research Day Group Photo > KAIST held the ‘2026 KAIST Research Day’ at the Chung Kunmo Conference Hall in the Academic Cultural Complex at the main Daejeon campus on the morning of the 28th starting at 10:00 AM. ‘Research Day’ is an annual festival for campus researchers that has been held since 2016. It serves as a platform to reward and encourage excellent researchers for their hard work and to exchange R&D information by introducing selected outstanding research achievements. Notably, this year’s award scale was expanded to further encourage researchers and foster an environment conducive to research immersion. The number of Research Award recipients increased from two to four, and Special Research Award recipients from one to two. During the event, Professor Hyun Myung (School of Electrical Engineering), who was selected as the recipient of the Research Grand Prize—the highest research honor—delivered a commemorative lecture titled “Spatial AI-based Autonomous Robot Navigation.” < Professor Hyun Myung Delivering His Lecture > Professor Hyun Myung developed proprietary autonomous robot navigation technology based on spatial AI and applied it to various robot platforms. Recently, he has also been pursuing commercialization through a startup venture. Since joining KAIST in 2008, he has been dedicated to researching autonomous mobile robot technology, applying it to various platforms such as wheeled robots, walking robots, and drones. Furthermore, he has proven his technical prowess by winning numerous international competitions. “By focusing on spatial AI and autonomous navigation technology—the core fields of robotics—for the past 17 years, I have been able to contribute to the localization and independence of mobile robot technology in Korea through industry-academic cooperation and startups,” Professor Myung stated in his acceptance speech. “I am grateful and pleased to have had the opportunity to nurture such excellent research talent.” < Professor Hyun Myung Receiving His Award > In addition, Professor Jae-Hung Han (Department of Aerospace Engineering), Professor Byung-Kwan Cho (Graduate School of Engineering Biology), Professor Joseph Searing (School of Computing), and Professor Hyun-Joo Lee (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) were selected as recipients of the Research Award. The Special Research Award was presented to Professor Sun-Chang Kim (Graduate School of Engineering Biology) and Professor Woo-Young Cho (School of Electrical Engineering), while Professor Jae Kyoung Kim (Department of Mathematical Sciences) was selected as the recipient of the Innovation Award. Furthermore, Professor Himchan Cho (Department of Materials Science and Engineering) and Professor Jung-Yong Lee (School of Electrical Engineering) received the Convergence Research Award as a team. Professor Ji-Joon Song (Department of Biological Sciences) was selected for the International Collaborative Research Award, and Professor Bongjin Kim (School of Electrical Engineering) for the QAIST Creative Challenge Research Award. The ceremony also included awards for the ‘2025 Top 10 KAIST Research Achievements’ and the ‘KAIST 14 Future Leading Technologies,’ recognizing outstanding accomplishments in national strategic technology sectors with significant academic, social, and economic impact. President Kwong Hyoung Lee remarked, “Today’s Research Day is a meaningful occasion to share challenging and innovative ideas and to celebrate the achievements of our outstanding researchers. KAIST, which aims for the world’s first and best research, will continue to contribute to the development of the nation and human society through research and leap forward as a leading global institution in science and technology.” < 2026 Research Day Poster >

<(Top row from left) Professors Meeyoung Cha, Won Do Heo, Byungha Shin, Kyung Min Kim, Sue Moon, and Juyoung Kim (Bottom row from left) Professors Jinwoo Shin, Young Jae Jang, Song Chong, Inkyu Park, and Taek-Soo Kim> To mark Science and ICT Day, 11 faculty members from KAIST received government awards at the "2026 Science and ICT Day Ceremony" hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Professor Meeyoung Cha (School of Computing) was awarded the Order of Science and Technological Merit (Innovation Medal/Hyeoksin-jang), Professor Won Do Heo (Department of Biological Sciences) received the Order of Science and Technological Merit (Ungbi Medal), and Professor Byungha Shin (Department of Materials Science and Engineering) was honored with the Order of Science and Technological Merit (Doyak Medal). Professors Jinwoo Shin (Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI), Young Jae Jang (Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering), and Song Chong (Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI) were awarded the Order of Service Merit (Red Stripes/Hongjo Geunjeong Medal) for their contributions to Information and Communications. In addition, Professor Kyung Min Kim (Department of Materials Science and Engineering) and Professor Sue Moon (School of Computing) received the Science and Technology Medal. Professor Juyoung Kim (School of Electrical Engineering), serving as the CEO of HyperAccel, was awarded the Industrial Service Medal for Information and Communications Merit. Professor Inkyu Park (Department of Mechanical Engineering) received the Presidential Citation, and Professor Taek-Soo Kim (Department of Mechanical Engineering) received the Prime Minister's Citation. In the category of Science and Technology Promotion, Professor Meeyoung Cha received the Order of Science and Technological Merit, Innovation Medal (2nd Class). Professor Cha has led research on solving social issues such as poverty detection based on big data. She was recognized for her contributions to creating academic and social value as the first Korean director at the Max Planck Institute. In the National R&D Performance Evaluation category, Professor Won Do Heo, who has led world-class research in biological sciences, received the Ungbi Medal. Professor Heo pioneered the field of molecular optogenetics in Korea and has contributed to the development of treatment technologies for brain diseases such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, and depression. Professor Byungha Shin received the Doyak Medal for his achievements accumulated over 20 years in the field of solar cells and optoelectronic materials/devices, specifically for developing high-efficiency devices. Professor Jinwoo Shin received the Red Stripes Order of Service Merit for his world-class research in AI and computer science, as well as his contributions to revitalizing the domestic physical AI industry through collaboration with robotics companies. Professor Young Jae Jang was also awarded the Red Stripes Order of Service Merit for establishing a manufacturing physical AI verification system based on cooperation between regions, universities, and research institutes, and for developing "KAIROS," the world's first robot operating platform, which contributed to manufacturing innovation and balanced regional development. Professor Song Chong received the Red Stripes Order of Service Merit for his role as the founding dean of Korea’s first Graduate School of AI, contributing to the cultivation of high-level AI talent and the establishment of an academic foundation. Furthermore, Professor Kyung Min Kim received the Science and Technology Medal for developing the world’s first high-dimensional brain-inspired computing technology that utilizes both heat and electricity, securing original technology for next-generation semiconductors. Professor Sue Moon received the Science and Technology Medal for her outstanding research in computer network performance measurement, online social network analysis, and ultra-high-performance network systems, as well as her efforts in promoting gender equality. Professor Juyoung Kim, as the CEO of the startup HyperAccel, received the Industrial Service Medal for developing "LPU," an AI semiconductor specialized for LLM inference, overcoming the limitations of GPU-centric AI infrastructure and contributing to high-efficiency, low-power AI systems. Professor Inkyu Park received the Presidential Citation for developing the world's first original technologies for ultra-low-power gas sensors and multi-sensors for smart healthcare. Professor Taek-Soo Kim was honored with the Prime Minister's Citation for leading global techniques in measuring and improving the mechanical properties of advanced thin-film materials, contributing to the development of the semiconductor and display industries. The ceremony was held on the 21st at the International Conference Hall of the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies. A total of 164 individuals were recognized for their contributions to Science, Technology, and ICT. Among them, 148 received their awards on-site, with a total scale of 36 Orders of Merit, 22 Medals, 47 Presidential Citations, and 59 Prime Minister's Citations.

< Professor Yiyun Kang (Photo Credit: Ryan Lash / TED) > KAIST announced on April 17th that Professor Yiyun Kang of the Department of Industrial Design has been selected as a speaker for the Main Stage at TED 2026, the world-renowned knowledge conference. Founded in 1984 under the motto "Ideas Worth Spreading," TED is an American non-profit knowledge platform where scholars, innovators, and artists from around the globe gather annually to lead global discourse. Previous Korean speakers on the Main Stage include novelist Young-ha Kim (2012) and violinist Ji-hae Park (2013). In 2011, roboticist Professor Dennis Hong stood on the main conference stage as the first Korean-American speaker. < TED Lecture Photo (Photo Credit: Ryan Lash / TED) > Professor Kang’s selection is particularly significant as it marks the first time since TED moved its venue to Vancouver, Canada, in 2014 that a Korean national—an artist and scholar actively based in South Korea, rather than an overseas resident or defector—has been invited to the Main Stage. Furthermore, it marks the return of a Korean speaker to the main stage after a 12-year hiatus, serving as a symbolic milestone. The TED 2026 annual conference is being held from April 13 to 17 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Canada, under the theme "ALL OF US." Professor Kang took the Main Stage on April 15, the third day of the conference, to present visual insights and philosophical solutions for a future where Artificial Intelligence (AI), humans, and nature must coexist. The lecture video will be edited and released globally via the official TED website and YouTube channel this coming July. In this talk, Professor Kang defines AI and the climate crisis as "problems we understand intellectually but fail to feel physically," noting that data- and information-centric communication methods often lower our sense of reality. She proposes the potential of art as a means to bridge this gap. Specifically, Professor Kang will demonstrate on stage how to transform complex challenges into visual and sensory experiences through cases from her own projects. Notably, this presentation transcends traditional lecture formats, structured as an "Immersive Talk" that transforms the entire stage into an artistic space. Rather than just listening, the audience participates by experiencing the content with their entire bodies. Professor Yiyun Kang is a world-class media artist and researcher who crosses the boundaries between sensation and technology, and materiality (physical forms) and immateriality (elements like light, video, and data). She leads the Experience Design Lab (XD Lab) at KAIST and has consistently explored the convergence of technology and art through collaborations with NASA, Google Arts & Culture, and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). "Humanity is currently at a critical turning point that will determine the coexistence of technology and nature," Professor Kang stated. "Through this TED stage, I aim to ensure that AI and the climate crisis are perceived not just as mere information, but as realities of our lives. I hope to create a practical opportunity to expand fragmented individual perceptions into collective human solidarity through the creative energy of art." < TED 2026 Professor Yiyun Kang (Source: TED Website) >  

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