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The 4th Korea AI System Forum Breakfast Lecture Successfully Concluded
A special event was held to explore the trend of "Physical AI," where artificial intelligence directly connects with the physical world and rapidly permeates industrial sites. On the morning of Monday, September 8, KAIST's Graduate School of AI Semiconductor held the "4th Korea AI System Forum (KAISF)" breakfast lecture at the Onoma Hotel in Daejeon.
At the lecture, Yoon-seok Pyu, a director at ROBOTIS, Inc., gave a special presentation on the topic, "Physical AI Research Trends and the Development History of Task-Oriented Humanoid AI Workers." Director Pyu introduced the current state of global Physical AI research and specifically explained ROBOTIS's strategy for developing humanoid robots tailored to industrial sites.
<Group photo of attendees at the 4th Korea AI System Forum>
In particular, the participants were shown the potential of a robot platform that can be applied in real industrial settings, thanks to technical advances in core components like the robot's ability to learn tasks through imitation learning, and the company's small, high-power actuators and self-developed reducers. He shared examples of the company's "AI Worker" development, which is specialized for the manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors, based on ROBOTIS's vision of "Freedom from Work."
Beyond simple technological concepts, attendees actively exchanged opinions and deeply agreed on the need for Physical AI robots that can be used stably and efficiently in the field.
Hoe-jun Yoo, chairman of the Korea AI System Forum (a KAIST professor), stated, "Physical AI is a field where countries around the world are fiercely competing to secure a leading position. KAISF will support our
companies to lead in the global market by building a Korean-style industrial ecosystem."
Going forward, KAISF plans to focus on ensuring that Korean Physical AI technology gains a competitive edge on the global stage by closely connecting industry, academia, and research institutions. Through this effort, it will promote the creation of a differentiated industrial ecosystem that encompasses AI semiconductors, robotics, and system integration.
2025.09.09 View 4933 -
Semiconductor Leadership Spotlighted in Nature Sister Journal
<(From Left) Prof. Shinhyun Choi, Prof. Young Gyu Yoon, Prof.Seunghyub Yoo from the School of Electrical Engineering, Prof. Kyung Min Kim from Materials Science and Engineering>
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 5th of September that its semiconductor research and education achievements were highlighted on August 18 in Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering, a sister journal of the world-renowned scientific journal Nature.
Title: Semiconductor-related research and education at KAIST DOI: 10.1038/s44287-025-00204-3
This special "Focus" article provides a detailed look at KAIST's leadership in next-generation semiconductor research, talent development, and global industry-academia collaboration, presenting a future blueprint for Korea's semiconductor industry. Editor Silvia Conti personally conducted the interviews, with KAIST professors including Kyung Min Kim from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Young Gyu Yoon, Shinhyun Choi, Sung-Yool Choi, and Seunghyub Yoo from the School of Electrical Engineering, participating.
KAIST operates educational programs such as the School of Electrical Engineering, the Department of Semiconductor Systems Engineering, and the Graduate School of Semiconductor Engineering. It is leading next-generation semiconductor research in areas like neuromorphic computing, in-memory computing, and 2D new material-based devices. Building on this foundation, researchers are developing new architectures and devices that transcend the limitations of existing silicon, driving innovation in various application fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and medicine.
Notably, research on implementing biological functions like synapses and neurons into hardware platforms using new types of memory such as RRAM and PRAM is gaining international attention. This work opens up possibilities for applications in robots, edge computing, and on-sensor AI systems.
Furthermore, KAIST has operated EPSS (Samsung Advanced Human Resources Training Program) and KEPSI (SK Hynix Semiconductor Advanced Human Resources Training Program) based on long-standing partnerships with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Graduate students in these programs receive full scholarships and are guaranteed employment after graduation. The Department of Semiconductor Systems Engineering, newly established in 2022, selects 100 undergraduate students each year to provide systematic education. Additionally, the KAIST–Samsung Electronics Industry-Academia Cooperation Center, which involves more than 70 labs annually, serves as a long-term hub for joint industry-academia research, contributing to solving critical issues within the industry.
The article emphasizes KAIST's growth beyond a simple research institution into an international research hub. KAIST is enhancing diversity and inclusivity by expanding the hiring of female faculty and establishing a Global Talent Visa Center to support foreign professors and students, attracting outstanding talent from around the world. As a core university within the Daedeok Research Complex (Daedeok Innopolis), it serves as the heart of "Korea's Silicon Valley."
KAIST researchers predict that the future of semiconductor technology is not in simple device miniaturization but in a convergent approach involving neuromorphic technology, 3D packaging technology, and AI applications. This article shows that KAIST's strategic research direction and leadership are gaining attention from both the global academic and industrial communities.
Professor Kyung Min Kim stated, "I am very pleased that KAIST's next-generation semiconductor research and talent development strategy has been widely publicized to domestic and international academia and industry through this article, and we will continue to contribute to the development of future semiconductor technology with innovative convergence research."
KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee remarked, "Being highlighted for our semiconductor research and education achievements in a world-renowned science journal is a testament to the dedication and pioneering spirit of our university members. I am delighted that KAIST's growth as a global research hub is gaining recognition, and we will continue to expand industry-academia collaboration to lead next-generation semiconductor innovation and play a key role in helping Korea become a future semiconductor powerhouse."
2025.09.05 View 8045 -
Batteries Make 12Minute Charge for 800km Drive a Reality
<Photo 1. (From left in the front row) Dr. Hyeokjin Kwon from Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Professor Hee Tak Kim, and Professor Seong Su Kim from Mechanical Engineering>
Korean researchers have ushered in a new era for electric vehicle (EV) battery technology by solving the long-standing dendrite problem in lithium-metal batteries. While conventional lithium-ion batteries are limited to a maximum range of 600 km, the new battery can achieve a range of 800 km on a single charge, a lifespan of over 300,000 km, and a super-fast charging time of just 12 minutes.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 4th of September that a research team from the Frontier Research Laboratory (FRL), a joint project between Professor Hee Tak Kim from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and LG Energy Solution, has developed a "cohesion-inhibiting new liquid electrolyte" original technology that can dramatically increase the performance of lithium-metal batteries.
Lithium-metal batteries replace the graphite anode, a key component of lithium-ion batteries, with lithium metal. However, lithium metal has a technical challenge known as dendrite, which makes it difficult to secure the battery's lifespan and stability. Dendrites are tree-like lithium crystals that form on the anode surface during battery charging, negatively affecting battery performance and stability.
This dendrite phenomenon becomes more severe during rapid charging and can cause an internal short-circuit, making it very difficult to implement a lithium-metal battery that can be recharged under fast-charging conditions.
The FRL joint research team has identified that the fundamental cause of dendrite formation during rapid charging of lithium metal is due to non-uniform interfacial cohesion on the surface of the lithium metal. To solve this problem, they developed a "cohesion-inhibiting new liquid electrolyte."
The new liquid electrolyte utilizes an anion structure with a weak binding affinity to lithium ions (Li⁺), minimizing the non-uniformity of the lithium interface. This effectively suppresses dendrite growth even during rapid charging.
This technology overcomes the slow charging speed, which was a major limitation of existing lithium-metal batteries, while maintaining high energy density. It enables a long driving range and stable operation even with fast charging.
Je-Young Kim, CTO of LG Energy Solution, said, "The four years of collaboration between LG Energy Solution and KAIST through FRL are producing meaningful results. We will continue to strengthen our industry-academia collaboration to solve technical challenges and create the best results in the field of next-generation batteries."
<Figure 1. Infographic on the KAIST-LGES FRL Lithium-Metal Battery Technology>
Hee Tak Kim, Professor from Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at KAIST, commented, "This research has become a key foundation for overcoming the technical challenges of lithium-metal batteries by understanding the interfacial structure. It has overcome the biggest barrier to the introduction of lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles."
The study, with Dr. Hyeokjin Kwon from the KAIST Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering as the first author, was published in the prestigious journal Nature Energy on September 3.
Nature Energy: According to the Journal Impact Factor announced by Clarivate Analytics in 2024, it ranks first among 182 energy journals and 23rd among more than 21,000 journals overall.
Article Title: Covariance of interphasic properties and fast chargeability of energy-dense lithium metal batteries
DOI: 10.1038/s41560-025-01838-1
The research was conducted through the Frontier Research Laboratory (FRL, Director Professor Hee Tak Kim), which was established in 2021 by KAIST and LG Energy Solution to develop next-generation lithium-metal battery technology.
2025.09.04 View 11873 -
KAIST to Foster a 'Robot Valley' in Daejeon with $10 Million Initiative
<Group Photo of Kick-off Meeting>
On September 3, KAIST announced the official launch of the "2025 Deep Tech Scale-up Valley Nurturing Project" with a kick-off meeting at the KAIST Department of Mechanical Engineering.
KAIST was selected for this project by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Research and Development Special District Foundation. With this selection, the university plans to create a "Robot Valley".
Over the next three and a half years, KAIST will receive a total of 13.65 billion won (approximately $10 million) in funding. The university's goal is to intensively nurture globally competitive, innovative robotics companies based on foundational technologies and to develop Daejeon into a global hub for the robotics industry.
The initiative will leverage Daejeon's exceptional research talent and its startup and investment ecosystem to create a model for regional revitalization and to cultivate the robotics industry as a next-generation strategic sector.
KAIST's vision for this project is to develop "Human-Friendly Robots (HFR)" that are more than just automated machines; they are collaborative partners that share space, roles, and emotions with people.
The project will implement a multi-stage strategy that includes promoting the commercialization of robotics technology, supporting the startup ecosystem, securing global technological competitiveness, and developing robot commercialization platforms. This will establish a virtuous cycle of technology development, startup and investment growth, and reinvestment.
Unlike traditional startup support and scale-up programs, this project aims for the simultaneous growth of the entire robotics industry, not just individual companies. A key element is an open innovation model where leading robotics firms like Angel Robotics Inc. and EuRoBotics Inc. (led by Professor Byung-ho Yu and Professor Hyun Myung) will share common core technologies related to actuators, circuits, AI, and standardized data. This will allow startups to focus on developing robot products that directly meet customer needs.
The project team includes key KAIST robotics researchers. The project leader is Professor Jung Kim (President of the Korea Robotics Society) from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Other participating professors include Geon-Jae Lee from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (human augmentation sensors), Hyun Myung from the School of Electrical Engineering (winner of the QRC 2023 quadruped robot autonomous walking competition at IEEE ICRA), Kyung-Chul Kong from the Department of Mechanical Engineering (two-time champion of the Cybathlon International Competition and founder of Angel Robotics), and Suk-Hyung Bae from the Department of Industrial Design (winner of the ACM SIGGRAPH robot sketching competition).
In addition, the KAIST Technology Commercialization Office, KAIST Holdings, Global Techno Valley Lab (GTLAB), and the Daejeon Center for Creative Economy and Innovation will manage technology commercialization and valley construction. The Daejeon Technopark will also participate to provide comprehensive commercialization support.
"The strategic cooperation between Daejeon City's robotics industry nurturing plan and KAIST was the driving force behind the selection for this project," said Geon-Jae Lee, Director of the KAIST Technology Commercialization Office. "We will create a robotics innovation ecosystem based in Daejeon and systematically foster global companies to rival the likes of ABB in Switzerland and KUKA in Germany, which are considered among the top three robotics companies in the world."
< Kick-off Meeting Scene>
Project leader Jung Kim stated, "We will spearhead efforts to discover and nurture over 15 future unicorn companies by promoting the commercialization of deep-tech robotics developed at KAIST. The entire KAIST robotics research team will dedicate its full efforts to ensure that our research and development achievements lead to real-world industries and startups."
KAIST President Kwang-Hyung Lee emphasized, "As Korea's leading research-oriented university, KAIST will actively support Daejeon's growth into a global robotics hub. This project is more than just research and development; it will be a turning point for KAIST to stand at the center of the global robotics ecosystem and create a new growth engine for the region and the nation."
In collaboration with Daejeon City, KAIST plans to form an "HFR Valley Innovation Council" to share and review project outcomes, ultimately building a self-sustaining ecosystem. This initiative aims to establish Daejeon as a world-class robotics industry hub.
2025.09.03 View 7095 -
KAIST Unlocks the Secret of Next-Generation Memory
<(From Left) Professor Sang-Hee Ko Park, Ph.D candidate Sunghwan Park, Ph.D candidate Chaewon Gong, Professor Seungbum Hong>
Resistive Random Access Memory (ReRAM), which is based on oxide materials, is gaining attention as a next-generation memory and neuromorphic computing device. Its fast speeds, data retention ability, and simple structure make it a promising candidate to replace existing memory technologies. KAIST researchers have now clarified the operating principle of this memory, which is expected to provide a key clue for the development of high-performance, high-reliability next-generation memory.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 2nd of September that a research team led by Professor Seungbum Hong from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in collaboration with a research team led by Professor Sang-Hee Ko Park from the same department, has for the first time in the world precisely clarified the operating principle of an oxide-based memory device, which is drawing attention as a core technology for next-generation semiconductors.
Using a 'Multi-modal Scanning Probe Microscope (Multi-modal SPM)' that combines several types of microscopes*, the research team succeeded in simultaneously observing the electron flow channels inside the oxide thin film, the movement of oxygen ions, and changes in surface potential (the distribution of charge on the material's surface). Through this, they clarified the correlation between how current changes and how oxygen defects change during the process of writing and erasing information in the memory.
*Several types of microscopes: Conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) for observing current flow, electrochemical strain microscopy (ESM) for observing oxygen ion movement, and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) for observing potential changes.
With this special equipment, the research team directly implemented the process of writing and erasing information in the memory by applying an electrical signal to a titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin film, confirming at the nano-level that the reason for the current changes was the variation in the distribution of oxygen defects.
In this process, they confirmed that the current flow changes depending on the amount and location of oxygen defects. For example, when there are more oxygen defects, the electron pathway widens, and the current flows well, but conversely, when they scatter, the current is blocked. Through this, they succeeded in precisely visualizing that the distribution of oxygen defects within the oxide determines the on/off state of the memory.
<Overview of the Research Process. By using one of the SPM modes, C-AFM (Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy), resistive switching corresponding to the electroforming and reset processes is induced in a 10 nm-thick TiO₂ thin film, and the resulting local current variations caused by the applied electric field are observed. Subsequently, at the same location, ESM (Electrochemical Strain Microscopy) and KPFM (Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy) signals are comprehensively analyzed to investigate and interpret the spatial correlation of ion-electronic behaviors that influence the resistive switching phenomenon>
This research was not limited to the distribution at a single point but comprehensively analyzed the changes in current flow, the movement of oxygen ions, and the surface potential distribution after applying an electrical signal over a wide area of several square micrometers (µm2). As a result, they clarified that the process of the memory's resistance changing is not solely due to oxygen defects but is also closely intertwined with the movement of electrons (electronic behavior).
In particular, the research team confirmed that when oxygen ions are injected during the 'erasing process (reset process)', the memory can stably maintain its off state (high resistance state) for a long time. This is a core principle for increasing the reliability of memory devices and is expected to provide an important clue for the future development of stable, next-generation non-volatile memory.
Professor Seungbum Hong of KAIST, who led the research, said, "This is an example that proves we can directly observe the spatial correlation of oxygen defects, ions, and electrons through a multi-modal microscope." He added, "It is expected that this analysis technique will open a new chapter in the research and development of various metal oxide-based next-generation semiconductor devices in the future."
<By combining C-AFM and ESM techniques, the correlation between local conductivity and variations in oxygen vacancy concentration after resistive switching is analyzed. After the electroforming process, regions with increased conductivity exhibit an enhancement in the ESM amplitude signal, which can be interpreted as an increase in defect ion concentration. Conversely, after the reset process, regions with reduced conductivity show a corresponding decrease in this signal. Through these observations, it is spatially demonstrated that changes in conductivity and local defect ion concentration after resistive switching exhibit a positive correlation>
This research, in which Ph.D. candidate Chaewon Gong from the KAIST Department of Materials Science and Engineering participated as the first author, was published on July 20 in 'ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces', a prestigious academic journal in the field of new materials and chemical engineering published by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
※ Paper Title: Spatially Correlated Oxygen Vacancies, Electrons and Conducting Paths in TiO2 Thin Films
This research was carried out with the support of the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea.
2025.09.02 View 4002 -
KAIST Wins Bid for ‘Physical AI Core Technology Demonstration’ Pilot Project
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 28th of August that, together with Jeonbuk State, Jeonbuk National University, and Sungkyunkwan University, it has jointly won the Ministry of Science and ICT’s pilot project for the “Physical AI Core Technology Proof of Concept (PoC)”, with KAIST serving as the overall research lead. The consortium also plans to participate in a full-scale demonstration project that is expected to reach a total scale of 1 trillion KRW in the future.
In this project, KAIST led the research planning under the theme of “Collaborative Intelligence Physical AI.” Based on this, Jeonbuk National University and Jeonbuk State will carry out joint research and establish a collaborative intelligence physical AI industrial ecosystem within the province. The pilot project will begin on September 1 this year and will run until the end of the year over the next five years. Through this effort, Jeonbuk State aims to be built into a global hub for physical AI.
KAIST will take charge of developing original research technologies, creating a research environment through the establishment of a testbed, and promoting industrial diffusion. Professor Young Jae Jang of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at KAIST, who is the overall project director, has been leading research on collaborative intelligence physical AI since 2016. His “Collaborative Intelligence-Based Smart Manufacturing Innovation Technology” was selected as one of KAIST’s “Top 10 Research Achievements” in 2019.
“Physical AI” refers to cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology that enables physical devices such as robots, autonomous vehicles, and factory automation equipment to perform tasks without human instruction by understanding spatiotemporal concepts.
In particular, collaborative intelligence physical AI is a technology in which numerous robots and automated devices in a factory environment work together to achieve goals. It is attracting attention as a key foundation for realizing “dark factories” in industries such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, and automobile manufacturing.
Unlike existing manufacturing AI, this technology does not necessarily require massive amounts of historical data. Through real-time, simulation-based learning, it can quickly adapt even to manufacturing environments with frequent changes and has been deemed a next-generation technology that overcomes the limitations of data dependency.
Currently, the global AI industry is led by LLMs that simulate linguistic intelligence. However, physical AI must go beyond linguistic intelligence to include spatial intelligence and virtual environment learning, requiring the organic integration of hardware such as robots, sensors, and motors with software. As a manufacturing powerhouse, Korea is well-positioned to build such an ecosystem and seize the opportunity to lead global competition.
In fact, in April 2025, KAIST won first place at INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences), the world’s largest industrial engineering society, with its case study on collaborative intelligence physical AI, beating MIT and Amazon. This achievement is recognized as proof of Korea’s global competitiveness in the physical AI technology realm.
Professor Young Jae Jang, KAIST’s overall project director, said, “Winning this large-scale national project is the result of KAIST’s collaborative intelligence physical AI research capabilities accumulated over the past decade being recognized both domestically and internationally. This will be a turning point for establishing Korea’s manufacturing industry as a global leading ‘Physical AI Manufacturing Innovation Model.’”
KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee emphasized that “KAIST is taking on the role of leading not only academic research but also the practical industrialization of national strategic technologies. Building on this achievement, we will collaborate with Jeonbuk National University and Jeonbuk State to develop Korea into a world-class hub for physical AI innovation.”
Through this project, KAIST, Jeonbuk National University, and Jeonbuk State plan to develop Korea into a global industrial hub for physical AI.
2025.08.29 View 6190 -
KAIST succeeds in controlling complex altered gene networks to restore them to normal
Previously, research on controlling gene networks has been carried out based on a single stimulus-response of cells. More recently, studies have been proposed to precisely analyze complex gene networks to identify control targets. A KAIST research team has succeeded in developing a universal technology that identifies gene control targets in altered cellular gene networks and restores them. This achievement is expected to be widely applied to new anticancer therapies such as cancer reversibility, drug development, precision medicine, and reprogramming for cell therapy.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 28th of August that Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho’s research team from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering has developed a technology to systematically identify gene control targets that can restore the altered stimulus-response patterns of cells to normal by using an algebraic approach. The algebraic approach expresses gene networks as mathematical equations and identifies control targets through algebraic computations.
The research team represented the complex interactions among genes within a cell as a "logic circuit diagram" (Boolean network). Based on this, they visualized how a cell responds to external stimuli as a "landscape map" (phenotype landscape).
By applying a mathematical method called the "semi-tensor product,*" they developed a way to quickly and accurately calculate how the overall cellular response would change if a specific gene were controlled.
*Semi-tensor product: a method that calculates all possible gene combinations and control effects in a single algebraic formula
However, because the key genes that determine actual cellular responses number in the thousands, the calculations are extremely complex. To address this, the research team applied a numerical approximation method (Taylor approximation) to simplify the calculations. In simple terms, they transformed a complex problem into a simpler formula while still yielding nearly identical results.
Through this, the team was able to calculate which stable state (attractor) a cell would reach and predict how the cell’s state would change when a particular gene was controlled. As a result, they were able to identify core gene control targets that could restore abnormal cellular responses to states most similar to normal.
Professor Cho’s team applied the developed control technology to various gene networks and verified that it can accurately predict gene control targets that restore altered stimulus-response patterns of cells back to normal.
In particular, by applying it to bladder cancer cell networks, they identified gene control targets capable of restoring altered responses to normal. They also discovered gene control targets in large-scale distorted gene networks during immune cell differentiation that are capable of restoring normal stimulus-response patterns. This enabled them to solve problems that previously required only approximate searches through lengthy computer simulations in a fast and systematic way.
Professor Cho said, “This study is evaluated as a core original technology for the development of the Digital Cell Twin model*, which analyzes and controls the phenotype landscape of gene networks that determine cell fate. In the future, it is expected to be widely applicable across the life sciences and medicine, including new anticancer therapies through cancer reversibility, drug development, precision medicine, and reprogramming for cell therapy.”
*Digital Cell Twin model: a technology that digitally models the complex reactions occurring within cells, enabling virtual simulations of cellular responses instead of actual experiments
KAIST master’s student Insoo Jung, PhD student Corbin Hopper, PhD student Seong-Hoon Jang, and PhD student Hyunsoo Yeo participated in this study. The results were published online on August 22 in Science Advances, an international journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
※ Paper title: “Reverse Control of Biological Networks to Restore Phenotype Landscapes”
※ DOI: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adw3995
This research was supported by the Mid-Career Researcher Program and the Basic Research Laboratory Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
2025.08.29 View 6742 -
KAIST launches "Junior KAIST" for future scientists who will change the world
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 27th of August that it is relaunching its online gifted education program, KAIST Cyber Gifted Education, from the KAIST Center for Gifted Education, into "Junior KAIST," an open science and engineering exploration platform in which any elementary, middle, or high school student can participate.
This reorganization was carried out to respond to the declining school-age population, the tendency to avoid science and engineering fields, and the acceleration of digital transformation, with the aim of establishing a national talent development model that supports the early discovery and systematic growth of future science and technology talent. Through this, KAIST plans to expand the base of science and technology talent, reduce regional and social educational gaps, and realize inclusive science and technology education.
"Junior KAIST" is a step-by-step inquiry-based online curriculum designed to help students develop interest in science and technology fields and deepen their exploration of areas of interest. In the long term, it aims to discover outstanding science and engineering talent and strengthen connections to higher education and career pathways.
In particular, for students from the 4th grade of elementary school to the 2nd year of high school, it operates a grade-specific customized learning curriculum—Enjoy, Dive, Challenge, Boost, and ACE (Achieve Complete Exploration)—to support learning suited to individual levels and interests, while intensively strengthening core STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) competencies such as mathematics, science, future technology, AI, and data-based problem solving.
In addition, the program will expand its Question-Based Learning (QBL) model, where students create and investigate their own questions. Outstanding students will also be given opportunities for real career experience, including mentoring with KAIST professors and university (graduate) students, participation in laboratory-based projects, and the presentation of research outcomes. KAIST plans to establish a virtuous cycle talent development system that will, in the long term, connect to admission into science high schools, gifted high schools, and KAIST itself.
In the second semester of the 2025 academic year, various courses such as "Enjoy Mathematics," "Enjoy Robots," and "Enjoy AI" will be offered, and registration is available until August 31 through the official website (junior.kaist.ac.kr).
Sijong Kwak, Director of the KAIST Center for Gifted Education Research, said, “Junior KAIST is not just gifted education, but a platform for fostering future science and technology talent that grows through curiosity, inquiry, and creativity. We will do our utmost to ensure that KAIST establishes itself as a representative model for national science and technology talent development.”
2025.08.28 View 6286 -
KAIST–Princeton University Officially Launch “Net-Zero Korea” to Address Climate Crisis
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 27th of August that a research team led by Professor Hae-Won Jeon of the Graduate School of Green Growth and Sustainable Development has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University in the United States to promote joint research on carbon neutrality, officially launching the Net-Zero Korea (NZK) project. This project was unveiled at the World Climate Industry EXPO (WCE) held in BEXCO, Busan, and will begin with seed funding from Google.
The NZK project aims, in the short term, to accelerate the transition of Korea’s energy and industrial sectors toward carbon neutrality, and in the mid- to long term, to strengthen Korea’s energy system modeling capabilities for policy formulation and implementation. Energy system modeling plays a critical role in studying the transition to clean energy and carbon neutrality.
In particular, this research plans to apply Princeton’s leading modeling methodologies from the Net-Zero America project—published in 2021 and widely recognized—to the Korean context by integrating them with KAIST’s integrated assessment modeling research.
The Net-Zero Korea project will be supported by funding from Google, KAIST, and Princeton University. This research is characterized by its detailed analysis of a wide range of factors, from regional land-use changes to job creation, and by concretely visualizing the resulting transformations in energy and industrial systems. It will also be conducted through an international collaborative network while reflecting Korea’s specific conditions. In particular, KAIST will develop an optimization-based open-source energy and industrial system model that integrates the effects of international trade, thereby contributing to global academia and policy research.
Therefore, the core of this modeling research is to apply to Korea the precise analysis and realistic approach that drew attention in Net-Zero America. Through this, it will be possible to visualize changes in the energy and industrial systems at high spatial, temporal, sectoral, and technological resolution, and to comprehensively analyze various factors such as regional land-use changes, capital investment requirements, job creation, and health impacts from air pollution. This will provide stakeholders with practical and reliable information.
In addition, the KAIST research team will collaborate with Princeton researchers, who have conducted national-scale decarbonization modeling studies with major research institutions in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Poland, and others, leveraging a global research network for joint studies.
Building on its experience in developing globally recognized integrated assessment models (IAM) tailored to Korea, KAIST will lead a new initiative to integrate international trade impacts into optimization-based open-source energy and industrial system models. This effort seeks to overcome the limitations of existing national energy modeling by reflecting the particularity of Korea, where trade plays a vital role across the economy.
Professor Wei Peng, Princeton’s principal investigator, said: “Through collaboration with KAIST’s world-class experts in integrated assessment modeling, we will be able to build new research that combines the strengths of macro-energy models and integrated assessment models, thereby developing capabilities applicable to many countries where trade plays a crucial role in the economy, such as Korea.”
Antonia Gawel, Director of Partnerships at Google, stated: “We are very pleased to support this meaningful research being conducted by KAIST and Princeton University in Korea. It will greatly help Google achieve our goal of net-zero emissions across our supply chain by 2030.”
Professor Haewon McJeon of KAIST commented: “Through joint research with Princeton University, which has been leading net-zero studies, we expect to provide science-based evidence to support Korea’s achievement of carbon neutrality and sustainable energy.”
President Kwang Hyung Lee of KAIST remarked: “It is deeply meaningful that KAIST, as Korea’s representative research institution, joins hands with Princeton University, a leading institution in the United States, to jointly build a science-based policy support system for responding to the climate crisis. This collaboration will contribute not only to achieving carbon neutrality in Korean society but also to the global response to the climate crisis.”
2025.08.28 View 6750 -
KAIST achieves over 95% high-purity CO₂ capture using only smartphone charging power
Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a technology that filters out carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere at extremely low concentrations (below 400 ppm). The KAIST research team has now succeeded in capturing over 95% high-purity carbon dioxide using only low power at the level of smartphone charging voltage (3V), without hot steam or complex facilities. While high energy cost has been the biggest obstacle for conventional DAC technologies, this study is regarded as a breakthrough demonstrating real commercialization potential. Overseas patent applications have already been filed, and because it can be easily linked with renewable energy such as solar and wind power, the technology is being highlighted as a “game changer” for accelerating the transition to carbon-neutral processes.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 25th of August that Professor Dong-Yeun Koh’s research team from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, in collaboration with Professor T. Alan Hatton’s group at MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering, has developed the world’s first ultra-efficient e-DAC (Electrified Direct Air Capture) technology based on conductive silver nanofibers.
Conventional DAC processes required high-temperature steam (over 100℃) in the regeneration stage, where absorbed or adsorbed carbon dioxide is separated again. This process consumes about 70% of the total energy, making energy efficiency crucial, and requires complex heat-exchange systems, which makes cost reduction difficult. The joint research team, led by KAIST, solved this problem with “fibers that heat themselves electrically,” adopting Joule heating, a method that generates heat by directly passing electricity through fibers, similar to an electric blanket. By heating only where needed without an external heat source, energy loss was drastically reduced.
This technology can rapidly heat fibers to 110℃ within 80 seconds with only 3V—the energy level of smartphone charging. This shortens adsorption–desorption cycles dramatically even in low-power environments, while reducing unnecessary heat loss by about 20% compared to existing technologies.
The core of this research was not just making conductive fibers, but realizing a “breathable conductive coating” that achieves both “electrical conductivity” and “gas diffusion.”
The team uniformly coated porous fiber surfaces with a composite of silver nanowires and nanoparticles, forming a layer about 3 micrometers (µm) thick—much thinner than a human hair. This “3D continuous porous structure” allowed excellent electrical conductivity while securing pathways for CO₂ molecules to move smoothly into the fibers, enabling uniform, rapid heating and efficient CO₂ capture simultaneously.
Furthermore, when multiple fibers were modularized and connected in parallel, the total resistance dropped below 1 ohm (Ω), proving scalability to large-scale systems. The team succeeded in recovering over 95% high-purity CO₂ under real atmospheric conditions.
This achievement was the result of five years of in-depth research since 2020. Remarkably, in late 2022, long before the paper’s publication, the core technology had already been filed for PCT and domestic/international patents (WO2023068651A1, countries entered: US, EP, JP, AU, CN), securing foundational intellectual property rights. This indicates that the technology is not only highly advanced but also developed with practical commercialization in mind beyond the laboratory level.
The biggest innovation of this technology is that it runs solely on electricity, making it very easy to integrate with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. It perfectly matches the needs of global companies that have declared RE100 and seek carbon-neutral process transitions.
Professor Dong-Yeun Koh of KAIST said, “Direct Air Capture (DAC) is not just a technology for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but a key means of achieving ‘negative emissions’ by purifying the air itself. The conductive fiber-based DAC technology we developed can be applied not only to industrial sites but also to urban systems, significantly contributing to Korea’s leap as a leading nation in future DAC technologies.”
This study was led by Young Hun Lee (PhD, 2023 graduate of KAIST; currently at MIT Department of Chemical Engineering) and co-first-authored by Jung Hun Lee and Hwajoo Joo (MIT, Department of Chemical Engineering). The results were published online on August 1, 2025, in Advanced Materials, one of the world’s leading journals in materials science, and in recognition of its excellence, the work was also selected for the Front Inside Cover.
※ Paper title: “Design of Electrified Fiber Sorbents for Direct Air Capture with Electrically-Driven Temperature Vacuum Swing Adsorption”
※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202504542
This study was supported by the Aramco–KAIST CO₂ Research Center and the National Research Foundation of Korea with funding from the Ministry of Science and ICT (No. RS-2023-00259416, DACU Source Technology Development Project).
2025.08.25 View 6315 -
KAIST-KBSI, ‘Communication’ Between Proteins Found to Mitigate Alzheimer’s Toxicity… Opening the Path to Treatment
50 million people worldwide are estimated to have dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease—accounting for over 70%—being the representative neurodegenerative brain disorder. A Korean research team has, for the first time in the world, identified at the molecular level that tau and amyloid-β, the two key pathological proteins of Alzheimer’s disease, directly communicate to regulate toxicity. This achievement is expected to provide new insights into the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as important clues for discovering biomarkers for early diagnosis and developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative brain disorders.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 24th of August that Professor Mi Hee Lim’s research team in the Department of Chemistry (Director of the Research Center for Metal–Neuroprotein Interactions), in collaboration with Dr. Young-Ho Lee’s team from the Division of Advanced Biomedical Research at the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI, President Sung-kwang Yang) under the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST, Chairperson Yeung-Shik Kim), together with Dr. Yun Kyung Kim and Dr. Sung Su Lim from the Brain Science Institute at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, President Sang-Rok Oh), has elucidated at the molecular level that the microtubule-binding domain of tau—one of the major pathological proteins of Alzheimer’s disease—directly interacts with amyloid-β (tau–amyloid-β communication), alters its aggregation pathway, and alleviates cellular toxicity.
Pathologically, Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of“neurofibrillary tangles” formed by aggregates of tau, a protein responsible for transporting nutrients and signaling molecules within neurons, and “amyloid plaques (senile plaques)” formed by clusters of amyloid-β fragments—abnormally cleaved from amyloid precursor protein, which is involved in brain development, intercellular signaling, and neuronal recovery—that aggregate in and around neuronal membranes in the brain.
Although tau and amyloid-β form pathological structures in spatially separated locations, it has been suggested that they may coexist inside and outside of cells and potentially interact. However, the molecular-level understanding of how their direct interaction affects the onset and progression of the disease has not been clearly revealed until now.
The joint research team found that among the structural repeats of tau protein that bind to microtubules (the intracellular transport system) inside neurons—K18, R1–R4, PHF6*, and PHF6—specifically K18, R2, and R3 bind with amyloid-β to form ‘tau–amyloid-β heterocomplexes.’ This process is significant because amyloid-β normally assembles into highly toxic, rigid fibers (amyloid fibrils), but when certain tau regions bind, amyloid-β shifts to an aggregation pathway that produces less toxic, less rigid aggregates.
Notably, these repeat regions of tau delay the nucleation stage (the initial step of amyloid aggregation linked to disease onset) and simultaneously alter the aggregation speed and structural form of amyloid-β associated with disease progression. As a result, the toxicity caused by amyloid-β was markedly reduced in both the intracellular and extracellular environments of the brain.
In this study, the team combined precise analytical techniques—including spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, isothermal titration calorimetry, and nuclear magnetic resonance—with cell-based toxicity assays to comprehensively analyze the structural, thermodynamic, and functional properties of tau–amyloid interactions.
The findings revealed that specific regions of tau’s microtubule-binding repeats possess both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) characteristics, and when the balance of these two properties is optimized, tau binds more effectively to amyloid-β. In other words, the intrinsic properties of tau determine its binding affinity with amyloid-β, its modulation of aggregation pathways, and its ability to regulate toxicity.
Dr. Young-Ho Lee of KBSI stated, “This research has uncovered a new molecular mechanism for the onset and progression of dementia, an intractable neurodegenerative disease. In particular, multidisciplinary convergent research focused on molecular interactions and protein aggregation is expected to play a pivotal role in clarifying not only the cross-talk between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases but also the interconnections among various diseases such as dementia, diabetes, and cancer.”
Professor Mi Hee Lim of KAIST added, “Tau protein does not merely contribute to pathological formation, but rather, through specific microtubule-binding repeat structures, it exerts a molecular function that actively mitigates amyloid-β aggregation and toxicity. This provides a new turning point in the pathological understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. The significance of this study lies in identifying new molecular motifs that could serve as therapeutic targets not only for Alzheimer’s but also for a variety of protein aggregation-based neurodegenerative brain disorders.”
This research, with Dr. Min Geun Kim of KAIST’s Department of Chemistry as first author, was published on August 22 in the internationally renowned journal Nature Chemical Biology (Impact factor: 13.7, top 3.8% in the field of chemistry).
※ Paper Title: “Interactions with tau’s microtubule-binding repeats modulate amyloid-β aggregation and toxicity”
※ DOI: 10.1038/s41589-025-01987-0
This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Basic Research Program (Leader Research and Mid-career Researcher Program), the Sejong Science Fellowship, as well as KBSI and KIST.
2025.08.25 View 7479 -
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 3657