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KAIST Team Led by Dong-won Lee Wins Grand Prize at the 2nd Global Quantum AI Competition
< (From Left) M.S candidate Dongwon Lee from School of Electrical Engineering, Ph.D candidate Jaehun Han from Graduate School of Quantum Science and Technology >
"Team Yangja-jorim," consisting of Dongwon Lee, Gyungjun Kim and Jaehun Han , has been honored with the Grand Prize at the '2026 2nd Global Quantum AI Competition.' The event was hosted and organized by NORMA, a specialized quantum computing company.
This global competition was designed to expand hands-on experience with quantum cloud services and to discover next-generation talent in the field of quantum artificial intelligence. The event spanned approximately 70 days, beginning with the preliminary opening ceremony held at Korea University’s Hana Square on December 17 last year. The final winners were announced during an awards ceremony held at NORMA's headquarters on the 27th of last month.
The competition attracted significant interest from quantum technology talent worldwide, including university students, developers, and researchers. A total of 137 teams participated in the preliminaries, with the top 10 teams advancing to the finals—a competitive ratio of approximately 13.7 to 1.
< An acquaintance attended the awards ceremony of the 2nd Global Quantum AI Competition to accept the prize on behalf of the team. >
In the final round, participants were presented with four generative problems utilizing the Quantum Circuit Born Machine (QCBM) model. To overcome the current limitations of quantum machine learning, the contestants were tasked with designing and validating Quantum-Classical Hybrid Generative AI models that integrate classical techniques. Notably, the final problem provided an opportunity to verify the proposed methods using a real Quantum Processing Unit (QPU) from Rigetti Computing, a leading global quantum computing firm.
The judging process employed a double-blind system, where the identities of both evaluators and participants remained undisclosed to ensure maximum fairness and credibility.
"Through this competition, we were able to explore the research potential of the quantum AI field more deeply," said KAIST's Team Yangja-jorim in their acceptance speech. "We hope to continue contributing to the advancement of quantum technology through consistent research and new challenges."
2026.03.10 View 40 -
KAIST Explores Solutions for African Youth Employment with World Bank and African Union
< Group photo of meeting participants >
KAIST announced on the 6th that the 'Jobs for Youth in Africa Knowledge Exchange' platform was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from March 3 to 5 (local time). The event was hosted by the Kenyan government and co-organized by the World Bank Group, the African Union, and the KAIST Global Center for Development and Strategy (G-CODEs).
As a high-level policy implementation platform dedicated to addressing youth employment challenges in Africa, the event drew approximately 200 participants, including government officials from over 20 African nations, international organizations, the private sector, academia, and development cooperation partners. KAIST participated as a key global partner linking technology and policy, presenting innovation models for employment systems based on digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.
< Scene from the meeting hosted by the Kenyan government >
With Africa’s youth population projected to double by 2050, the continent faces significant hurdles such as high unemployment rates and informal employment. This event marked the second face-to-face meeting of the 'Jobs for Youth in Africa Community of Practice (CoP),' which was launched in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2025. The meeting aimed to share policy experiences among member states and materialize scalable implementation models. Salim Mvurya, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, attended the opening ceremony and emphasized that youth job creation is a critical priority at both national and continental levels.
The program focused on several key themes:
Evidence-based youth employment strategies
Innovation in employment systems through digital and AI technologies
Improving labor market outcomes through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Business environment reforms and strengthening value chain linkages
Notably, in the session titled "Digital and AI-based Employment System Innovation," Professor Kyung Ryul Park of KAIST shared Korea’s digital transformation experiences and AI application cases, proposing directions for data-driven policy design and the development of technology-based employment platforms. Additionally, KAIST Professor Ga-young Park facilitated mutual learning and connected cases of scalable youth employment projects across countries during the "Global Cafe Session."
< Professor Kyung Ryul Park of KAIST delivering a presentation >
Participants visited the project site of "National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA)," an initiative pursued by the Kenyan government and the World Bank. There, they observed a comprehensive youth employment model that integrates vocational training, job matching, and entrepreneurship support. The site visit served as a practical learning opportunity to share the processes of policy design and execution.
Since last year, KAIST has been involved in digital innovation projects for youth employment in East Africa through the Korea-World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF). Through this event, the university reaffirmed its status as a global cooperation hub leading technology-based policy innovation.
"The issue of youth employment is a structural challenge that combines digital transformation, industrial strategy, and educational reform," stated Professor Kyung Ryul Park. "KAIST will continue to present actionable policy models based on data and technology while strengthening international cooperation."
This Knowledge Exchange platform is evaluated as a significant milestone that reaffirmed the African youth employment agenda as a core priority of international cooperation and solidified the foundation for enhancing policy implementation capabilities. A follow-up workshop is scheduled to be held early next year at the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kenya-AIST) campus in Konza, Nairobi, which is modeled after KAIST.
2026.03.10 View 45 -
KAIST Proposes a Multinational AI Cooperation Strategy Beyond U.S.–China Dominance
2026.01.19 View 1012 -
KAIST and the World Bank Launch Digital Innovation Initiative to Boost Youth Employment in East Africa
Daejeon, Republic of Korea — November 2025 — KAIST has joined forces with the World Bank to launch a new initiative aimed at advancing youth employment and social protection systems through digital innovation in East Africa. The project, titled “Enhancing Youth Employment Policies through Digital Technologies,” will be implemented in Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania over the next three years.
The initiative is jointly led by Professor Kyung Ryul Park of the KAIST Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy, John Van Dyck, Director of the World Bank’s Social Protection and Labor (SPL) Global Practice, and Yoon Young Cho, Senior Economist at the World Bank. Supported by the Korea–World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF), the project is funded at approximately KRW 1.4 billion (USD 980,000) and will run through 2028.
The collaboration aims to strengthen youth employment and advance the digital transformation of social protection systems in East Africa. In many developing countries, such systems are still managed manually, resulting in inefficiencies and inaccuracies. To address these challenges, the project will establish AI- and big data–driven digital social registry systems that enhance transparency, accuracy, and efficiency in social service delivery.
Beyond technology transfer, the project will also explore broader social and policy challenges that arise in digital labor markets — including algorithmic bias, ethical considerations in AI, and new forms of inequality. Through this work, the partners aim to develop a new model for an “inclusive AI transition,” ensuring that technological innovation contributes to social inclusion and sustainable development. Findings from the project will be published in World Bank reports and policy briefs.
As a global leader in digital governance and data-driven policymaking, South Korea’s experience is expected to play a key role in helping East African governments design and implement resilient, inclusive, and data-based labor and social protection systems.
The KAIST Global Center for Development and Strategy (G-CODEs) will organize two international workshops in collaboration with the Korea Development Institute (KDI), the Ministry of Employment and Labor of Korea, and the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kenya-AIST). These workshops will help local officials build capacity in applying digital technologies, while providing KAIST researchers and students with hands-on experience in global development cooperation.
A kickoff workshop was held during the World Bank Annual Meetings earlier this month, with participation from Professors Kyung-Ryul Park and Seok-Kyun Woo (Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy), Dean Ji-Yong Eom (Graduate School of Green Growth and Sustainability), Researcher Seung-Hyun Kim, and Consultant Ji-Su Sim (M.S. Class of 2025, STP).
“This collaboration is not merely a technical project but an innovative effort to digitally connect youth employment and social protection systems,” said John Van Dyck, Director of the World Bank SPL Global Practice. “It will help East African governments design sustainable and inclusive digital labor infrastructures.”
Yoon Young Cho, Senior Economist at the World Bank, added, “The project seeks to digitalize social protection systems in East Africa to promote youth employment and social inclusion, focusing on building sustainable, government-led public digital solutions.”
Professor Kyung-Ryul Park of KAIST stated, “Through this partnership with the World Bank, we hope to support inclusive development in East Africa while offering KAIST researchers and students valuable opportunities to learn and grow through real-world international cooperation.”
2025.11.05 View 2456 -
KAIST Professors Participate in Mastering Immunity 2025 Singapore Summit
<2025 Global Infectious Diseases Summit>
KAIST is proud to announce the participation of Professors Eui-Cheol Shin and Jeong Seok Lee in the Mastering Immunity 2025: Global Infectious Diseases Summit, held on 1–2 September 2025 in Singapore. This international symposium brought together leading experts in immunology to discuss the latest advancements in infectious disease research, vaccine development, and immune response characterization.
At the summit, Professor Eui-Cheol Shin contributed as a speaker, sharing insights from his groundbreaking research in immunology, while Professor Jeong Seok Lee also presented on his latest work in the field. Professor Eui-Cheol Shin joined a panel discussion alongside other distinguished global experts, highlighting the importance of collaboration in addressing pressing infectious disease challenges.
The summit was organized by ProImmune, an international life-science company specializing in innovative immunology solutions. Through cutting-edge technologies, including Ankyron® target-binding reagents, Pro5® MHC Class I Pentamers, ProT2® MHC Class II Tetramers as well as immunology-based assays such as REVEAL® MHC Binding Assays and ProPresent® Antigen Presentation Assays are accelerating this vital research. ProImmune supports researchers worldwide in understanding immune responses and accelerating the development of vaccines and immunotherapies.
<Presentation at the Summit>
KAIST celebrates the contributions of Professors Shin and Lee in representing Korean science on the global stage and advancing the understanding of infectious diseases.
For more information about the Mastering Immunity 2025 summit and to view the recorded talks, visit: https://www.proimmune.com/conference-videos
2025.09.13 View 1607 -
KAIST–National Intelligence Service Successfully Hold the 4th University Research Security Education Council Workshop
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 22nd of August that, together with the National Intelligence Service, it held the “4th University Research Security Education Council Workshop” at the Academic Cultural Complex on KAIST’s main campus in Daejeon on the 21st.
This 4th workshop was held under the theme of “Global Research Security,” based on the recognition that technology leakage can have serious impacts not only on the national economy and security but on international exchanges in science and technology. Accordingly, national policies and outstanding cases from institutions to enhance the level of university research security management were shared, and practical security enhancement measures applicable in the field were discussed.
In the presentation sessions, △ the Ministry of Science and ICT presented the government’s policy direction for strengthening research security, △ the National Institute for International Education and Training (KIRD) gave a presentation on settlement and career support programs for foreign researchers in science and engineering, △ the Korea Strategic Trade Institute (KOSTI) introduced the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO/CP) system for universities’ dual-use items and technology export control measures, and △ the Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP) conducted a special lecture on research security field manuals.
In the university case presentations, KAIST shared achievements in promoting global research security, while Yong In University introduced its newly launched program this year for fostering security professionals.
This event was attended by more than 130 participants from approximately 70 universities nationwide, including Seoul National University and Ewha Womans University, as well as officials from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the National Intelligence Service, KIRD, KISTEP, and KOSTI.
An NIS official stated, “With the rapid changes in the university research environment due to the expansion of international joint research and the increase in international students, the establishment of a research security culture has become more important than ever. Based on the excellent cases shared at the workshop, we will actively reflect the opinions of host institutions to spread security awareness and continue preparing effective countermeasures.”
Cheol Seong Jang, President of the National University Council of Research & Industry Cooperation and Research Directors (Professor at Kangwon National University), emphasized, “If the ideas and cases discussed at the workshop are applied in university settings, they will greatly contribute to Korea leading the establishment of a trusted global research ecosystem.”
Byung-Kwan Cho, Director of Research at KAIST, said, “KAIST will not hesitate to introduce and spread leading research security systems so that our efforts to strengthen research security become a benchmark for other universities. By applying the principle of open science — ‘as open as possible, as closed as necessary’ — we will ensure that research security and global exchanges achieve harmony.”
The University Research Security Education Council was launched in June 2022 with joint supervision by KAIST and the National Intelligence Service and cooperation from KIRD. This year’s workshop was co-hosted by KAIST, the National Intelligence Service, and Kangwon National University.
2025.08.22 View 2171 -
2025 APEC Youth STEM Science Exchange Program Successfully Completed
<Photo1. Group photo at the end of the program>
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 11thof August that it successfully hosted the 'APEC Youth STEM Conference KAIST Academic Program,' a global science exchange program for 28 youth researchers from 10 countries and over 30 experts who participated in the '2025 APEC Youth STEM* Collaborative Research and Competition.' The event was held at the main campus in Daejeon on Saturday, August 9.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) refers to the fields of science and engineering.
The competition was hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and organized by the APEC Science Gifted Mentoring Center. It took place from Wednesday, August 6, to Saturday, August 9, 2025, at KAIST in Daejeon and the Korea Science Academy of KAIST in Busan. The KAIST program was organized by the APEC Science Gifted Mentoring Center and supported by the KAIST Institute for the Gifted and Talented in Science Education.
Participants had the opportunity to experience Korea's cutting-edge research infrastructure firsthand, broaden their horizons in science and technology, and collaborate and exchange ideas with future science talents from the APEC region.
As the 2025 APEC chair, Korea is promoting various international collaborations to discover and nurture the next generation of talent in the STEM fields. The KAIST academic exchange program was particularly meaningful as it was designed with the international goal of revitalizing science gifted exchanges and expanding the basis for cooperation among APEC member countries. It moved beyond the traditional online-centric research collaboration model to focus on hands-on, on-site, and convergence research experiences.
The global science exchange program at KAIST introduced participants to KAIST's world-class educational and research environment and provided various academic content to allow them to experience real-world examples of convergence technology-based research.
<Photo2. Program Activities>
First, the KAIST Admissions Office participated, introducing KAIST's admissions system and its educational and research environment to outstanding international students, providing an opportunity to attract global talent. Following this, Dr. Tae-kyun Kwon of the Music and Audio Computing Lab at the Graduate School of Culture Technology presented a convergence art project based on musical artificial intelligence data, including a research demonstration in an anechoic chamber.
<Photo3. Participation in a music AI research demonstration>
Furthermore, a Climate Talk Concert program was organized under the leadership of the Graduate School of Green Growth and Sustainability, in connection with the theme of the APEC Youth STEM Collaborative Research: 'Youth-led STEM Solutions: Enhancing Climate Resilience.'
The program was planned and hosted by Dean Jiyong Eom. It provided a platform for young people to explore creative and practical STEM-based solutions to the climate crisis and seek opportunities for international cooperation.
<Photo4. Participation in Music AI Research Demonstration >
The program was a meaningful time for APEC youth researchers, offering practical support for their research through special lectures and Q&A sessions on:
Interdisciplinary Research and Education in the Era of Climate Crisis (Dean Jiyong Eom)
Energy Transition Technology in the Carbon Neutral Era (Professor Jeongrak Son)
Policies for Energy System Change (Professor Jihyo Kim)
Carbon Neutral Bio-technology (Professor Gyeongrok Choi)
After the afternoon talk concert, Lee Jing Jing, a student from Brunei, shared her thoughts, saying, "The lectures by the four professors were very meaningful and insightful. I was able to think about energy transition plans to solve climate change from various perspectives."
Si-jong Kwak, Director of the KAIST Global Institute for Talented Education, stated, "I hope that young people from all over the world will directly experience KAIST's research areas and environment, expand their interest in KAIST, and continue to grow as outstanding talents in the fields of science and engineering."
KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee said, "KAIST will be at the center of science and technology-based international cooperation and will spare no effort to support future talents in developing creative and practical problem-solving skills. I hope this event served as an opportunity for young people to understand the value of global cooperation and grow into future science leaders."
2025.08.11 View 4798 -
KAIST GESS Team Awarded Honorable Mention at 2025 Entrepreneurship Olympiad
<Photo: eaureco team at the final pitch>
The KAIST Global Entrepreneurship Summer School (GESS) winning team, eaureco, earned an Honorable Mention at the 2025 Entrepreneurship Olympiad, held July 21–23 at Stanford Faculty Club and hosted by Techdev Academy. Competing in the college track, the team showcased their innovative solution among participants from top institutions including Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego.
Team eaureco—comprising KAIST undergraduate and graduate students Jiwon Park(Semiconductor Systems Engineering), Si Li Sara (Julia) Aow, Lunar Sebastian Widjaja (both Civil & Environmental Engineering), Seoyeon Jang (Impact MBA), and Isabel Alexandra Cornejo Lima (BTM/Global Digital Innovation)—presented a B2B solution that upcycles discarded seaweed into biodegradable ice packs for cold-chain companies. Their business model was recognized for its alignment with sustainability, resource circulation, and social impact goals.
<Photo: eaureco team preparing for the final pitch>
The team’s ability to rapidly adapt their pitch based on mentor feedback and clearly communicate the value of their idea to judges contributed to their recognition. This accomplishment further highlights the impact of KAIST's GESS program, which supports students in building real-world entrepreneurial skills through immersive learning experiences in Silicon Valley.
“The GESS program helped us refine every aspect of our business idea—from identifying the problem to developing a go-to-market strategy,” said Si Li Sara (Julia) Aow, a member of the eaureco team. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to showcase our work on a global stage and hope to continue developing innovations that drive meaningful change.”
“This award reaffirms the creative potential and practical capabilities of KAIST students in global innovation ecosystems,” said Dr. Soyoung Kim, Vice President of International Office. “We will continue to invest in programs like GESS to empower our students as future leaders in entrepreneurship.”
The Entrepreneurship Olympiad is a global event designed to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration among young change-makers. This year’s program featured keynote talks, panels, and workshops led by industry pioneers including Marc Tarpenning (Co-founder, Tesla Motors), Pat Brown (Founder, Impossible Foods), and other influential entrepreneurs from the biotech, fintech, and deeptech sectors.
The Honorable Mention recognition underscores KAIST’s commitment to global entrepreneurship education and the growing international visibility of the GESS program.
2025.07.29 View 2944 -
KAIST Holds '2025 KAIST Science Frontier Camp' for Multicultural Youth
<2025 KAIST Science Frontier Camp Activities>
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 18th of July that it hosted the '2025 KAIST Science Frontier Camp' for multicultural youth from the 15th for three days and two nights at the Creative Learning Building on its main campus in Daejeon.
This event was organized in accordance with the 'Multicultural Talent Nurturing Agreement' signed by KAIST and GS Caltex in 2024. It marks the first year of a mid-to-long-term project in which 100 million KRW in development funds will be contributed annually for four years. The Global Institute for Talented Education organized the camp, and approximately 30 middle school students from multicultural families affiliated with the 'Hanmaum Educational Volunteer Group' (Director, Honorary Professor Byung Kyu Choi), a mentoring and volunteer organization for multicultural students, participated.
The camp participants enjoyed developing their scientific thinking skills and problem-solving abilities, and broadening their understanding of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) career paths through a variety of science activity programs, including: △'Black Box: Record the Egg's Last Moment!' △'Find the Best Strategy! Heuristic Algorithm Challenge' △'Future Society and AI, Finding Career Directions' △'Distance Dominates the World!' and △'Career Talk Concert.'
During the opening ceremony, Director Byung Kyu Choi delivered a congratulatory speech. Additionally, Yong Hyun Kim, Dean of Admissions at KAIST, gave a special lecture titled 'La La Land KAIST – A Story of Chasing the Dream of a Young Scientist,' sharing honest stories about careers and dreams as a scientist.
Gi Jung Yoo, a freshman from the Division of Undeclared Majors who participated in the camp as a student mentor, shared that he had a very meaningful time mentoring the participating students, who are future STEM hopefuls, sharing vivid experiences as well as insights on metric functions. He added his hope that more students would be given such opportunities.
< Students Actively Taking Part in the Camp Activities>
Si Jong Kwak, Director of the Global Institute for Talented Education, stated, "We hope this will be a practical way to help students foster their interest in science, learn the joy of discussion and communication, and design their future."
KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee remarked, "This camp was a valuable opportunity for students from diverse cultural backgrounds to gain confidence through science and envision their future." He added, "KAIST will continue to dedicate efforts to nurturing multicultural talent and contribute to creating a sustainable society."
Since 2024, KAIST has introduced and selected multicultural students through its Equal Opportunity Admission track. Utilizing the development funds from GS Caltex, KAIST also established the 'GS Caltex Multicultural Excellence Scholarship Program.' Through this scholarship program, undergraduate students from multicultural families receive living expenses each semester, allowing them to focus more stably on their studies. As the number of applicants for the Equal Opportunity Admission track is increasing every year, more multicultural students are expected to benefit from scholarships in the future.
Additionally, in May, both organizations invited Ms. Si Si Wu Fong, a foreign employee at GS Caltex, to give a special lecture titled 'Working Life for Foreigners in Korea' to support foreign students' career exploration. Foreign students who attended the lecture reported positive feedback, stating that they gained practical career information and were motivated to pursue employment in STEM fields in Korea.
KAIST plans to continue strengthening its efforts to nurture multicultural talent, increase understanding of the upcoming multicultural society, and help spread social values.
<At the 2025 KAIST Science Frontier Camp>
2025.07.18 View 2928 -
2025 KAIST Global Entrepreneurship Summer School Concludes Successfully in Silicon Valley
< A group photo taken at the 2025 GESS Special Lecture.Vice President So Young Kim from the International Office, VC Jay Eum from GFT Ventures, Professor Byungchae Jin from the Impact MBA Program at the Business School, and Research Assistant Professor Sooa Lee from the Office of Global Initiative>
The “2025 KAIST Global Entrepreneurship Summer School (2025 KAIST GESS),” organized by the Office of Global Initiative of the KAIST International Office (Vice President So Young Kim), successfully concluded. Now in its fourth year, the program was designed to provide KAIST students with firsthand experience of the world’s leading startup ecosystem in Silicon Valley, USA, and to strengthen their practical capabilities to take on challenges on the global stage.
This year’s 2025 KAIST GESS welcomed approximately 40 participants, including 24 undergraduate and graduate students selected through document screening, interviews, team presentations, mentoring, and peer evaluations, as well as 16 Impact MBA students from the College of Business. The selected undergraduate and graduate participants underwent two months of pre-program training and received mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs to refine their business models and elevate their project ideas. Meanwhile, Impact MBA students joined the Silicon Valley program onsite, attending key lectures and networking sessions to broaden their understanding of the global startup ecosystem.
From June 22nd, participants spent seven days in Silicon Valley completing the global entrepreneurship curriculum. The program was operated in cooperation with major organizations including the KOTRA Silicon Valley IT Center, Korea-US AI Semiconductor Innovation Center (K-ASIC), and Plug and Play Tech Center. Local experts delivered lectures on topics such as “Startup Culture,” “Learning from Failures” and “Networks and Capital.”
Participants also had the opportunity to visit startups led by KAIST alumni and local entrepreneurs, gaining valuable insights from firsthand stories about global entrepreneurship. Companies visited included Medic Life Sciences (CEO Kyuho Han) and ImpriMed (CEO Sungwon Lim). Through these visits, participants received practical advice on market entry strategies and overcoming challenges in the global arena.
As part of their first onsite schedule, KAIST students attended an interactive fireside chat titled “Global Entrepreneurship and AI,” where they engaged in in-depth discussions on the future of AI-driven global startups. The session featured three distinguished speakers: Jay Kim, Head of US Business Development at Hyper Accel; Chandra Shekhar Dhir, AI/ML Director at JPMorgan Chase’s Machine Learning Center of Excellence; and Taesu Kim, co-founder of AI voice synthesis startup Neosapience and KAIST alumnus. Taesu Kim shared, “Facing serious health issues made me reflect on my life, and after recovering, I wanted to pursue something that could create a real impact on society, which led me to start my own company.” He also advised students to “take time at important turning points in life to deeply think about what you truly want to do and how you can contribute to society.
In line with the core value of ‘paying it forward’—a fundamental principle of global entrepreneurship learned in Silicon Valley—GESS participants engaged in a community service project titled “Let’s Play with AI+Tech,” organized in collaboration with the Sunnyvale community and Foothill College. Leveraging their strong foundation in AI, KAIST students designed and led a hands-on ‘Doodle AI’ educational program to make foundational AI concepts accessible and engaging for underrepresented local elementary school children and their parents, fostering meaningful community interaction.
On the final day of the 2025 KAIST GESS, a pitch competition was held with participation from Silicon Valley venture capitalists and accelerators. Participants presented their business models, developed over the two-month program, to a panel of judges. The winning team was eaureco, and Si Li Sara Aow (Civil and Environmental Engineering) shared, “GESS was a valuable opportunity to test and hone practical entrepreneurship skills beyond mere networking.” She added, “At first, I lacked confidence, but challenging myself to pitch in the final presentation gave me the courage to take one step closer to global entrepreneurship. Pitching in Silicon Valley, the heart of global startups, was an invaluable experience that will shape my path as a global entrepreneur.”
The program concluded with a special lecture by Jay Eum, a seasoned Silicon Valley venture capitalist and a judging panel member for GESS over the past three years. He shared key insights on startup success from an investor’s perspective, advising, “The journey of entrepreneurship is never easy, but the sooner you start, the better.” He further encouraged participants to “focus on solving problems in local markets, but do not fear challenging global markets,” inspiring them with courage and actionable advice.
So Young Kim, Director of the KAIST Office of Global Initiative, said, “We hope the 2025 KAIST GESS serves as a stepping stone for KAIST students to grow into influential entrepreneurs on the global stage,” adding, “This program is also expected to further enhance KAIST’s international reputation.”
Byungchae Jin, Faculty Chair of the KAIST Impact MBA, College of Business, highlighted the program's educational benefits, stating, “Engaging directly with local entrepreneurs and gaining practical experience in Silicon Valley's startup environment provide students with hands-on learning and significant inspiration.”
The 2025 KAIST GESS was jointly hosted by the KAIST Office of Global Initiative, Impact MBA, and Startup KAIST. Moving forward, KAIST plans to continue expanding its field-based global entrepreneurship education by linking with key global hubs like Silicon Valley, fostering next-generation global leaders who will lead innovation and challenge the status quo.
2025.07.01 View 5401 -
KAIST Turns an Unprecedented Idea into Reality: Quantum Computing with Magnets
What started as an idea under KAIST’s Global Singularity Research Project—"Can we build a quantum computer using magnets?"—has now become a scientific reality. A KAIST-led international research team has successfully demonstrated a core quantum computing technology using magnetic materials (ferromagnets) for the first time in the world.
KAIST (represented by President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on the 6th of May that a team led by Professor Kab-Jin Kim from the Department of Physics, in collaboration with the Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), has developed a “photon-magnon hybrid chip” and successfully implemented real-time, multi-pulse interference using magnetic materials—marking a global first.
< Photo 1. Dr. Moojune Song (left) and Professor Kab-Jin Kim (right) of KAIST Department of Physics >
In simple terms, the researchers developed a special chip that synchronizes light and internal magnetic vibrations (magnons), enabling the transmission of phase information between distant magnets. They succeeded in observing and controlling interference between multiple signals in real time. This marks the first experimental evidence that magnets can serve as key components in quantum computing, serving as a pivotal step toward magnet-based quantum platforms.
The N and S poles of a magnet stem from the spin of electrons inside atoms. When many atoms align, their collective spin vibrations create a quantum particle known as a “magnon.”
Magnons are especially promising because of their nonreciprocal nature—they can carry information in only one direction, which makes them suitable for quantum noise isolation in compact quantum chips. They can also couple with both light and microwaves, enabling the potential for long-distance quantum communication over tens of kilometers.
Moreover, using special materials like antiferromagnets could allow quantum computers to operate at terahertz (THz) frequencies, far surpassing today’s hardware limitations, and possibly enabling room-temperature quantum computing without the need for bulky cryogenic equipment.
To build such a system, however, one must be able to transmit, measure, and control the phase information of magnons—the starting point and propagation of their waveforms—in real time. This had not been achieved until now.
< Figure 1. Superconducting Circuit-Based Magnon-Photon Hybrid System. (a) Schematic diagram of the device. A NbN superconducting resonator circuit fabricated on a silicon substrate is coupled with spherical YIG magnets (250 μm diameter), and magnons are generated and measured in real-time via a vertical antenna. (b) Photograph of the actual device. The distance between the two YIG spheres is 12 mm, a distance at which they cannot influence each other without the superconducting circuit. >
Professor Kim’s team used two tiny magnetic spheres made of Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) placed 12 mm apart with a superconducting resonator in between—similar to those used in quantum processors by Google and IBM. They input pulses into one magnet and successfully observed lossless transmission of magnon vibrations to the second magnet via the superconducting circuit.
They confirmed that from single nanosecond pulses to four microwave pulses, the magnon vibrations maintained their phase information and demonstrated predictable constructive or destructive interference in real time—known as coherent interference.
By adjusting the pulse frequencies and their intervals, the researchers could also freely control the interference patterns of magnons, effectively showing for the first time that electrical signals can be used to manipulate magnonic quantum states.
This work demonstrated that quantum gate operations using multiple pulses—a fundamental technique in quantum information processing—can be implemented using a hybrid system of magnetic materials and superconducting circuits. This opens the door for the practical use of magnet-based quantum devices.
< Figure 2. Experimental Data. (a) Measurement results of magnon-magnon band anticrossing via continuous wave measurement, showing the formation of a strong coupling hybrid system. (b) Magnon pulse exchange oscillation phenomenon between YIG spheres upon single pulse application. It can be seen that magnon information is coherently transmitted at regular time intervals through the superconducting circuit. (c,d) Magnon interference phenomenon upon dual pulse application. The magnon information state can be arbitrarily controlled by adjusting the time interval and carrier frequency between pulses. >
Professor Kab-Jin Kim stated, “This project began with a bold, even unconventional idea proposed to the Global Singularity Research Program: ‘What if we could build a quantum computer with magnets?’ The journey has been fascinating, and this study not only opens a new field of quantum spintronics, but also marks a turning point in developing high-efficiency quantum information processing devices.”
The research was co-led by postdoctoral researcher Moojune Song (KAIST), Dr. Yi Li and Dr. Valentine Novosad from Argonne National Lab, and Prof. Axel Hoffmann’s team at UIUC. The results were published in Nature Communications on April 17 and npj Spintronics on April 1, 2025.
Paper 1: Single-shot magnon interference in a magnon-superconducting-resonator hybrid circuit, Nat. Commun. 16, 3649 (2025)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58482-2
Paper 2: Single-shot electrical detection of short-wavelength magnon pulse transmission in a magnonic ultra-thin-film waveguide, npj Spintronics 3, 12 (2025)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44306-025-00072-5
The research was supported by KAIST’s Global Singularity Research Initiative, the National Research Foundation of Korea (including the Mid-Career Researcher, Leading Research Center, and Quantum Information Science Human Resource Development programs), and the U.S. Department of Energy.
2025.06.12 View 10241 -
KAIST Office of Global Initiative Hosts 2024 Global Startup Internship Seminar
< Photo of ImpriMed CEO Sungwon Lim’s lecture >
The Office of Global Initiative at KAIST successfully hosted the 2024 Global Startup Internship Seminar (GSIS) from Wednesday, November 20, to Friday, November 22.
Now in its third year, following the 2022 Global Startup Internship Fair, the GSIS aims to introduce KAIST students to internship opportunities at U.S.-based startups and encourage participation in global internship programs, particularly for students with entrepreneurial aspirations. This year’s seminar featured notable startups including ImpriMed, a precision medical AI company; Klleon, an AI culture tech firm; and Bear Robotics, renowned for its autonomous serving robots. Approximately 80 KAIST students attended the event through prior registration.
A key highlight of this year’s seminar was the participation of the CEOs from Bear Robotics and ImpriMed, two prominent Silicon Valley startups. Both CEOs, who had previously participated in the 2024 Global Entrepreneurship Summer School (GESS) last June, offered insights into their companies, provided one-on-one career counseling sessions, and discussed the concept of global entrepreneurship with students interested in U.S. startup internships.
In addition to company presentations, the seminar offered practical workshops on resume and email writing tailored for U.S. internships, testimonials from current KAIST students and alumni who interned at Silicon Valley startups, and a J1 Visa Information Session, all aimed at preparing students for internships in the United States.
So Young Kim, Vice President of the International Office and Director of the Office of Global Initiative, expressed her hopes for the event, stating, “through this event, KAIST students will be inspired by the global entrepreneurial spirit of mentors who have started businesses abroad, and that it will help further spread a culture of challenging adversity and overcoming the risks of failure.” She further added that KAIST is committed to continuously developing programs that cultivate a global entrepreneurial mindset among its students.
The 2024 Global Startup Internship Seminar successfully concluded, providing KAIST students with vision and opportunities in global entrepreneurship.
2024.11.25 View 5598