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AI, Humanoid Robots, and Space Rovers to Gather: Experience Future Technologies at the Science Festival
<(From left) Photos of the KAIST Science Festival exhibition hall and booths from the previous year>
KAIST announced on April 10th that KAIST will participate in the ‘2026 Korea Science and Technology Festival,’ the largest science festival in the country, to mark Science Month in April. KAIST will operate ‘KAIST Play World,’ an interactive exhibition hall showcasing the pinnacle of AI and robotics. This year’s festival will be held in two parts: ‘2026 Korea Science Festival in Daejeon (April 17–19)’ and ‘2026 Korea Science Festival in Gyeonggi (April 24–26).’ KAIST will host consecutive exhibitions at the Daejeon DCC (Second Exhibition Hall) and KINTEX in Ilsan. Under the ‘Play World’ concept, KAIST plans to offer differentiated interactive content tailored to various generations. In particular, on-site events and souvenirs featuring the KAIST character ‘Nupjuk-i’ will be provided to enhance visitor engagement.
□ [Daejeon] From Humanoid Robots to Space Rovers and AI Semiconductor Friend ‘BROCA’ The exhibition at Daejeon DCC from April 17 to 19 will feature ‘Future Tech Experience Content’ centered on advanced robotics, space technology, and AI semiconductor technology, allowing visitors to experience KAIST's core research achievements firsthand. First, a humanoid robot equipped with control technology developed by Eurobotics Co., Ltd., a startup from Professor Myung Hyun’s research team in the School of Electrical Engineering, will be unveiled on the 17th. This robot is gaining attention as a next-generation platform capable of natural walking in both industrial and urban environments. Additionally, on the 19th, a humanoid robot from Professor Park Hae-won’s team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering will demonstrate high-difficulty human movements such as the duck walk and moonwalk, showcasing its potential for practical industrial use. Professor Lee Dae-young’s team in the Department of Aerospace Engineering will present the world’s first deployable lunar rover wheel based on origami technology. Visitors can touch the transformable wheel model and observe space rover demonstrations and displays by the co-developer, Unmanned Exploration Laboratory (UEL). Educational sessions for folding various space systems using origami will also be available. Along with this, visitors can experience advanced human-machine interaction through ‘BROCA,’ a mobile social AI agent that builds relationships with users beyond simple Q&A, and the voice-capable guide robot ‘On-Newro,’ developed by Professor Yoo Hoi-jun’s team at the AI Semiconductor Graduate School. The student startup ‘Liar Games’ will operate a trial zone for ‘Dual Focus,’ an abstract strategy board game where players compete 1:1 against AI. Similar to the deep strategic play of chess or Go, the rules are intuitive enough to learn in 5 minutes, which is expected to stimulate the challenge-seeking spirit of visitors.
< (Top row from left) Professor Park Hae-won’s humanoid robot, Professor Yoo Hoi-jun’s BROCA, (Bottom row from left) Eurobotics’ humanoid walking technology capable of overcoming any terrain based on a mobile kit, Professor Lee Dae-young’s storable and deployable rover for lunar exploration >
□ [Gyeonggi] ‘Raibo’ the Rough-Terrain Robot and AI-Based Future Experiences The Gyeonggi exhibition at KINTEX from April 24 to 26 will focus on ‘Life-Oriented Experience Content’ centered on AI and everyday technology. ‘Raibo,’ a quadrupedal robot developed by Professor Hwangbo Jemin’s team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is capable of high-speed movement on complex terrains such as sand, stairs, and debris, and is expected to be utilized for disaster relief and search missions. Visitors can experience Raibo’s driving technology directly at the site. The ‘Future Memories Studio’ from Professor Nam Tek-jin’s team in the Department of Industrial Design will provide a new experience where visitors can meet and talk to their future selves 10 years later, recreated using AI-generated visuals and voices. Participants will receive a four-cut photo capturing a moment that is the future for their current self but a memory for their future self. Professor Yun Yun-jin’s team at the KAIST Urban AI Research Center will present technology that analyzes the impact of climate change on small business sales through ‘AI-based Sight and Sound for Heatwave Consumption Index.’ They will showcase time-series AI-based sales prediction technology and generative AI technology that expresses this visually and audibly. Furthermore, Professor Yun’s lecture, “City Walk of Artificial Intelligence: Urban AI and the Future of Cities,” will be held on April 24 (Fri) at 15:00 in KINTEX Meeting Room 206. In addition, Professor Yoo Hoi-jun’s team from the AI Semiconductor Graduate School will continue from the Daejeon exhibition to operate an experience zone for various mobile AI agents based on AI semiconductors. Also, the student startup Rabbithole Company will introduce a new type of game where AI NPCs (Non-Player Characters) converse and cooperate to solve given problems. Visitors can participate by observing the process where AI characters create their own stories by being presented with situations or goals instead of being directly controlled.
< (Top row from left) Professor Hwangbo Jemin’s Raibo, Professor Nam Tek-jin’s team: Met My Future Self 10 Years Later, (Bottom row from left) Professor Yun Yun-jin’s Seeing and Hearing Heatwave Consumption Index through AI, Game image from CEO Kim Na-hoon’s Rabbithole Company >
Through the exhibitions in both regions, KAIST plans to operate various participatory programs to make science and technology easy and fun to approach, vividly conveying how technology from the laboratory transforms our lives. KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung remarked, “This year’s science festival is a large-scale event connecting Daejeon and Gyeonggi, allowing more citizens to experience KAIST’s innovative research achievements firsthand.” He added, “I hope this will be a precious time for people to experience the future created by robots and AI, fostering their dreams and curiosity about science.”
2026.04.13 View 333 -
KAIST, National Quantum Fab Research Institute Opening Ceremony and Research Building Groundbreaking Ceremony Held
<Groundbreaking Ceremony Shovel Scene for the KAIST National Quantum Fab Research Building>
KAIST announced on December 3rd that it held the opening ceremony for the National Quantum Fab Research Institute and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Quantum Fab Research Building at the KAIST main campus in Daejeon, officially commencing the construction of the nation's core infrastructure to enhance South Korea's quantum technology competitiveness.
The event began with a progress report and introduction of the institute by Yong Hoon Cho, Director of the Quantum Fab Research Institute, followed by a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the official start of the Quantum Fab Research Building's construction and an unveiling of the plaque. Approximately 50 officials attended the event, including Jang-woo Lee, Mayor of Daejeon, Kwang Hyung Lee, President of KAIST, and the presidents of the National Nanofab Center and the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, representing government, local government, and collaborating organizations.
<Plaque-Unveiling Scene at the Opening of the KAIST National Quantum Fab Research Institute>
Since being selected as the lead institution for the Quantum Fab in a competition held by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation last year, our university secured a commitment of 20 billion KRW from the Daejeon Metropolitan City for construction costs and completed the institute's establishment and design. The new Quantum Fab Research Building, with a total floor area of 2,498 ㎡, is targeted for completion in 2027.
The new building will house South Korea's largest specialized, open-access cleanroom fab for quantum devices. A total of 45 billion KRW or more will be invested by 2031, including national funds, local government funds, and KAIST's budget. Over 37 units of advanced equipment will be installed in the 1st and 3rd-floor FAB cleanrooms in stages, along with stability facilities such as Class 100-1,000 cleanliness standards, constant temperature/humidity, and emergency power supply.
The KAIST Quantum Fab operates on a fully open-access system allowing researchers to directly carry out processes. It will support processing technologies for various quantum platforms, including photons, point defects, and neutral atoms, and will also enhance user programs such as training and workshops. Phase 1 service began in July of this year, and Phase 2 full-scale operation, based on the newly installed equipment, will start in 2028.
Jang-woo Lee, Mayor of Daejeon, stated, "The KAIST open-access Quantum Fab is a core platform that will lead the industrialization of quantum technology in South Korea," adding, "Especially since the US and South Korea have designated quantum computing as a strategic field in their $350 billion technology cooperation package, Daejeon's role is becoming even more crucial."
Director Yong-Hoon Cho said, "Through a user-centric process support system, we will play a central role in the national quantum research ecosystem," adding, "Based on our research capabilities and support system, we will expand industry-academia-research cooperation and aim to leap forward as a pilot quantum fab."
President Kwang Hyung Lee remarked, "Quantum science and technology is a core strategic area that will determine the future technological hegemony," and "We will take this opening and groundbreaking ceremony as an opportunity for industry, academia, research, and government to join forces and strengthen the competitiveness of the national quantum ecosystem."
KAIST plans to focus on establishing a self-sustainable virtuous cycle system centered around the Quantum Fab, and will further dedicate efforts to enhancing national strategic technology competitiveness through the nurturing of specialized talent and the development of processing technologies for each platform.
<Bird’s Eye View of the KAIST National Quantum Fab Research Building>
2025.12.04 View 2658 -
A Breakthrough in Parkinson's Research: Precision Diagnosis and Treatment with AI and Optogenetics
<Research team photo (from top left) Dr. Bobae Hyeon, Professor Daesoo Kim, Director Chang-joon Lee, (right) Professor Won Do Heo>
Globally recognized figures like Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox have long suffered from Parkinson's disease. The disease presents a complex set of motor symptoms, including tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. However, traditional diagnostic methods have struggled to sensitively detect changes in the early stages, and drugs targeting brain signal regulation have had limited clinical effectiveness.
Recently, Korean researchers successfully demonstrated the potential of a technology that integrates AI and optogenetics as a tool for precise diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of Parkinson's disease in mice. They have also proposed a strategy for developing next-generation personalized treatments.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 22nd of September that a collaborative research team—comprising Professor Won Do Heo's team from the Department of Biological Sciences, Professor Daesoo Kim's team from the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, and Director Chang-Jun Lee's team from the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) Center for Cognition and Sociality—achieved a preclinical research breakthrough by combining AI analysis with optogenetics. Their work simultaneously demonstrated the possibility of early and precise diagnosis and treatment in an animal model of Parkinson's disease.
The research team created a Parkinson's disease mouse model with two stages of severity. These were male mice with alpha-synuclein protein abnormalities, a standard model used to simulate human Parkinson's disease for diagnostic and therapeutic research.
In collaboration with Professor Kim's team at KAIST, they introduced AI-based 3D pose estimation for behavioral analysis. The team analyzed over 340 behavioral features—such as gait, limb movements, and tremors—from the Parkinson's mice and condensed them into a single metric: the AI-predicted Parkinson's disease score (APS).
The analysis showed that the APS exhibited a significant difference from the control group as early as two weeks after the disease was induced. It also proved more sensitive in assessing the disease's severity than traditional motor function tests. The study identified key diagnostic features, including changes in stride, asymmetrical limb movements, and chest tremors. The top 20 behavioral features included hand/foot asymmetry, changes in stride and posture, and an increase in high-frequency chest movement.
To confirm that these behavioral indicators were not just general motor decline but specific to Parkinson's, the team applied the same analysis to a mouse model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in collaboration with Director Lee's team at IBS. Since both Parkinson's and ALS cause motor function problems, if the APS simply reflected poor motor skills, a high score should have appeared in both diseases.
However, the analysis of the ALS animal model showed that despite a decline in motor function, the mice did not exhibit the high APS seen in the Parkinson's model. Instead, their scores remained low, and their behavioral changes were distinctly different. This demonstrates that APS is directly related to specific, characteristic changes that only appear in Parkinson's disease.
For treatment, the research team used optoRET, an optogenetics technology that precisely controls neurotrophic signals with light. This technique proved effective in the animal model, leading to smoother gait and limb movements and a reduction in tremors.
Specifically, a regimen of shining light on alternate days was found to be the most effective, and it also showed a tendency to protect dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.
Professor Won Do Heo of KAIST stated, "This is the first time in the world that a preclinical framework has been implemented that connects early diagnosis, treatment evaluation, and mechanism verification of Parkinson's disease by combining AI-based behavioral analysis with optogenetics." He added, "This lays a crucial foundation for future personalized medicine and customized treatments for patients."
The study, with Dr. Bobae Hyeon, a postdoctoral researcher at the KAIST Institute for Biological Science, as the first author, was published online in the international journal Nature Communications on August 21st. Dr. Hyeon is conducting follow-up research to advance Parkinson's cell therapy at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, supported by the "Global Physician-Scientist Training Program" of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute.
This research was supported by the KAIST Global Singularity Project, the Ministry of Science and ICT/National Research Foundation of Korea, the IBS Center for Cognition and Sociality, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare/Korea Health Industry Development Institute.
Paper Title: Integrating artificial intelligence and optogenetics for Parkinson's disease diagnosis and therapeutics in male mice
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63025-w
2025.09.22 View 2256 -
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 4459 -
Immune Signals Directly Modulate Brain's Emotional Circuits: Unraveling the Mechanism Behind Anxiety-Inducing Behaviors
KAIST's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, led by Professor Jeong-Tae Kwon, has collaborated with MIT and Harvard Medical School to make a groundbreaking discovery. For the first time globally, their joint research has revealed that cytokines, released during immune responses, directly influence the brain's emotional circuits to regulate anxiety behavior.
The study provided experimental evidence for a bidirectional regulatory mechanism: inflammatory cytokines IL-17A and IL-17C act on specific neurons in the amygdala, a region known for emotional regulation, increasing their excitability and consequently inducing anxiety. Conversely, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was found to suppress excitability in these very same neurons, thereby contributing to anxiety alleviation.
In a mouse model, the research team observed that while skin inflammation was mitigated by immunotherapy (IL-17RA antibody), anxiety levels paradoxically rose. This was attributed to elevated circulating IL-17 family cytokines leading to the overactivation of amygdala neurons.
Key finding: Inflammatory cytokines IL-17A/17C promote anxiety by acting on excitable amygdala neurons (via IL-17RA/RE receptors), whereas anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 alleviates anxiety by suppressing excitability through IL-10RA receptors on the same neurons.
The researchers further elucidated that the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 works to reduce the excitability of these amygdala neurons, thereby mitigating anxiety responses.
This research marks the first instance of demonstrating that immune responses, such as infections or inflammation, directly impact emotional regulation at the level of brain circuits, extending beyond simple physical reactions. This is a profoundly significant achievement, as it proposes a crucial biological mechanism that interlinks immunity, emotion, and behavior through identical neurons within the brain.
The findings of this research were published in the esteemed international journal Cell on April 17th of this year.
Paper Information:
Title: Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines bidirectionally modulate amygdala circuits regulating anxiety
Journal: Cell (Vol. 188, 2190–2220), April 17, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2025.03.005
Corresponding Authors: Professor Gloria Choi (MIT), Professor Jun R. Huh (Harvard Medical School)
2025.07.24 View 3376 -
KAIST Kicks Off the Expansion of its Creative Learning Building, a 50th Anniversary Donation Landmark
KAIST announced on July 10th that it held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 9th for the expansion of its Creative Learning Building. This project, which celebrates the university's 50th anniversary, will become a significant donation-funded landmark and marks the official start of its construction.
<(From left) President Kwang Hyung Lee, Former President Sung-Chul Shin>
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by key donors who graced the occasion, including KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee, former President Sung-Chul Shin, Alumni Association President Yoon-Tae Lee, as well as parents and faculty member.
The Creative Learning Building serves as a primary space where KAIST undergraduate and graduate students attend lectures, functioning as a central hub for a variety of classes and talks. It also houses student support departments, including the Student Affairs Office, establishing itself as a student-centric complex that integrates educational, counseling, and welfare functions.
This expansion is more than just an increase in educational facilities; it's being developed as a "donation landmark" embodying KAIST's identity and future vision. Designed with a focus on creative convergence education, this project aims to create a new educational hub that organically combines education, exchange, and welfare functions
The campaign included over 230 participants, including KAIST alumni Byung-gyu Chang, Chairman of Krafton, former Alumni Association President Ki-chul Cha, Dr. Kun-mo Chung (former Minister of Science and Technology), as well as faculty members, parents, and current students. They collectively raised 6.5 billion KRW in donations. The total cost for this expansion project is 9 billion KRW, encompassing a gross floor area of 3,222.92㎡ across five above-ground floors, with completion targeted for September 2026.
2025.07.10 View 3645 -
King Saud University and KAIST discussed Strategic AI Partnership
<From left> President Abdulla Al-Salman(King Saud University), President Kwang Hyung Lee(KAIST)
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) and King Saud University (President Abdulla Al-Salman) held a meeting on July 3 at the KAIST Campus in Seoul and agreed to pursue strategic cooperation in AI and digital platform development. The global AI landscape is increasingly polarized between closed models developed by the U.S. and China’s nationally focused technology ecosystems. In this context, many neutral countries have consistently called for an alternative third model that promotes both technological diversity and open access. President Lee has previously advocated for a "Tripartite Platform Strategy" (三分之計), proposing an international collaboration framework based on open-source principles to be free from binary digital power structures and foster cooperative coexistence.
This KAIST-KSU collaboration represents a step toward developing a new, inclusive AI model. The collaboration aims to establish an innovative multilateral framework, especially within the MENA, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, by building an open-source-based AI alliance. Both institutions bring complementary strengths to the table. Saudi Arabia possesses large-scale capital and digital infrastructure, while Korea leads in core AI and semiconductor technologies, applied research, and talent cultivation.
Together, the two nations aim to establish a sustainable collaboration model that creates a virtuous cycle of investment, technology, and talent. This initiative is expected to contribute to the development of an open AI platform and promote diversity in the global AI ecosystem.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed key areas of future cooperation, including:
· Joint development of open-source AI technologies and digital platforms
· Launch of a KAIST-KSU dual graduate degree program
· Expansion of exchange programs for students, faculty, and researchers
· Collaborative research in basic science and STEM disciplines
In particular, the two institutions discussed to establish a joint AI research center to co-develop open AI models and explore practical industrial applications. The goal is to broaden access to AI technology and create an inclusive innovation environment for more countries and institutions.
President Abdulla Al-Salman stated, "Under Saudi Vision 2030, we are driving innovation in science and technology through new leadership, openness, and strategic investment. This partnership with KAIST will serve as a critical foundation for building a competitive AI ecosystem in the Middle East."
President Kwang Hyung Lee emphasized, "By combining Saudi Arabia's leadership, market, and investment capacity with KAIST's technological innovation and the rich talent pools from both countries, we will significantly contribute to diversifying the global AI ecosystem."
Both leaders further noted, "Through joint research leading to an independent AI model, our two institutions could establish a new axis beyond the existing US-China digital order—realizing a 'Tripartite AI Strategy' that will propel us into global markets extending far beyond the MENA and ASEAN regions."
KAIST and KSU plan to formalize this agreement by signing an MOU in the near future, followed by concrete actions such as launching the joint research institute and global talent development programs. This collaboration was initiated under the Korea Foundation’s Distinguished Guests Invitation Program, overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is expected to grow into a long-term strategic partnership with continued support from KF.
About King Saud University (KSU)
Founded in 1957, KSU is Saudi Arabia’s first and leading national university. As a top research-oriented institution in the Middle East, it has achieved international recognition in fields such as AI, energy, and biotechnology. It plays a central role in nurturing talent and driving innovation aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and is expanding global partnerships to further strengthen its research capabilities.
About the Korea Foundation (KF)
Established in 1991 under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Korea Foundation is a public diplomacy institution dedicated to strengthening international understanding and friendship with Korea. KF plays a key role in expanding Korea’s soft power through academic and cultural exchange, people-to-people networks, and global Korean studies programs. Its Distinguished Guests Invitation Program fosters strategic partnerships with global leaders in government, academia, and industry.
2025.07.04 View 4995 -
‘InnoCORE Research Group’ Launched to Lead AI Convergence Innovation
KAIST announced on the 16th of June that it has launched the ‘InnoCORE (Innovation-Core) Research Group,’ which will lead advanced strategic research in AI convergence (AI+S&T), in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Yoo Sang-im, hereinafter referred to as MSIT) and DGIST, GIST, and UNIST*. Through this, the group plans to actively recruit up to 200 world-class postdoctoral researchers.
DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology), GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology), UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology)
The ‘InnoCORE Research Group’ aims to foster core research personnel who will lead innovation in the field of AI convergence, focusing on nurturing and attracting high-level research talent in AI+Science & Technology. This is a strategic response to prevent brain drain of domestic talent and attract excellent overseas talent amidst the accelerating global competition for AI talent.
Through this initiative, our university plans to accelerate AI-based science and technology innovation and disseminate research achievements across industries and the economy by supporting top domestic and international postdoctoral researchers to dedicate themselves to developing AI convergence technologies in an advanced collaborative research environment.
The InnoCORE project for advanced AI+S&T convergence research and global talent attraction is jointly promoted by four science and technology institutes, including KAIST. It is structured around AI core technologies (such as hyper-scale language models, AI semiconductors) and AI convergence technologies (such as bio, manufacturing, energy, and aerospace).
As the leading institution, our university operates the following four research groups:
Hyper-scale Language Model Innovation Research Group: Advancement of LLM technology and research on generative AI, multimodal AI, and ensuring reliability.
AI-based Intelligent Design-Manufacturing Integration Research Group: Establishment of an AI platform for the entire lifecycle of the manufacturing industry and innovation in design and processes.
AI-Innovation Drug Research Group: Securing AI-based drug development technologies across the entire lifecycle and overcoming intractable diseases.
AI-Transformed Aerospace Research Group: AI transformation of aerospace systems throughout their lifecycle and development of new technologies such as autonomous flight and space communication.
< Poster on the InnoCORE Global Jobfair for Recruitment of Postdoctoral Researchers >
In addition, a total of eight research groups are formed to promote global collaborative convergence research, including those led by DGIST, GIST, and UNIST: ▲Bio-Integrated Physical AI, ▲Early Diagnosis of Brain Diseases AI+Nano Convergence, ▲Intelligent Hydrogen Technology Innovation, and ▲AI-Space Solar Power Research Group.
Starting in 2025, the four science and technology institutes, including KAIST, will officially begin recruiting 400 postdoctoral researchers in the AI+S&T fields. Selected postdoctoral researchers will be guaranteed high-level treatment with an annual salary of over 90 million KRW, and additional support through matching with companies and research projects is also planned.
In particular, global recruitment fairs will be held in major US regions to expand the attraction of excellent overseas talent. Local recruitment fairs will be held in Boston (Harvard, MIT), New York (NYU), and Silicon Valley (Stanford) in June, along with promotions through global academic journals such as Nature and Science, and LinkedIn.
KAIST plans to provide multiple mentor programs, global joint research opportunities, and excellent infrastructure (such as supercomputers, semiconductor fabs, and AI research platforms) within the research groups to enable postdoctoral researchers to collaborate with experts from various academic and industrial fields.
President Kwang Hyung Lee emphasized, “Through this InnoCORE project, KAIST will leap forward as a Global Hub for AI+S&T convergence research. Young researchers from around the world will challenge themselves and grow at KAIST, and our country will play a pivotal role in establishing itself as a leading nation in global AI convergence research and industry. To achieve this, we will spare no effort in providing the best research environment and active support.”
KAIST plans to actively pursue the InnoCORE project to secure global competitiveness in AI convergence research and contribute to the development of advanced industries. The eight selected research groups will finalize their detailed research plans by the end of June and commence full-scale research in July.
2025.06.19 View 9688 -
Simultaneous Analysis of 21 Chemical Reactions... AI to Transform New Drug Development
< Photo 1. (From left) Professor Hyunwoo Kim and students Donghun Kim and Gyeongseon Choi in the Integrated M.S./Ph.D. program of the Department of Chemistry >
Thalidomide, a drug once used to alleviate morning sickness in pregnant women, exhibits distinct properties due to its optical isomers* in the body: one isomer has a sedative effect, while the other causes severe side effects like birth defects. As this example illustrates, precise organic synthesis techniques, which selectively synthesize only the desired optical isomer, are crucial in new drug development. Overcoming the traditional methods that struggled with simultaneously analyzing multiple reactants, our research team has developed the world's first technology to precisely analyze 21 types of reactants simultaneously. This breakthrough is expected to make a significant contribution to new drug development utilizing AI and robots.
*Optical Isomers: A pair of molecules with the same chemical formula that are mirror images of each other and cannot be superimposed due to their asymmetric structure. This is analogous to a left and right hand, which are similar in form but cannot be perfectly overlaid.
KAIST's Professor Hyunwoo Kim's research team in the Department of Chemistry announced on the 16th that they have developed an innovative optical isomer analysis technology suitable for the era of AI-driven autonomous synthesis*. This research is the world's first technology to precisely analyze asymmetric catalytic reactions involving multiple reactants simultaneously using high-resolution fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F NMR). It is expected to make groundbreaking contributions to various fields, including new drug development and catalyst optimization.
*AI-driven Autonomous Synthesis: An advanced technology that automates and optimizes chemical substance synthesis processes using artificial intelligence (AI). It is gaining attention as a core element for realizing automated and intelligent research environments in future laboratories. AI predicts and adjusts experimental conditions, interprets results, and designs subsequent experiments independently, minimizing human intervention in repetitive experiments and significantly increasing research efficiency and innovativeness.
Currently, while autonomous synthesis systems can automate everything from reaction design to execution, reaction analysis still relies on individual processing using traditional equipment. This leads to slower speeds and bottlenecks, making it unsuitable for high-speed repetitive experiments.
Furthermore, multi-substrate simultaneous screening techniques proposed in the 1990s garnered attention as a strategy to maximize reaction analysis efficiency. However, limitations of existing chromatography-based analysis methods restricted the number of applicable substrates. In asymmetric synthesis reactions, which selectively synthesize only the desired optical isomer, simultaneously analyzing more than 10 types of substrates was nearly impossible.
< Figure 1. Conventional organic reaction evaluation methods follow a process of deriving optimal reaction conditions using a single substrate, then expanding the substrate scope one by one under those conditions, leaving potential reaction areas unexplored. To overcome this, high-throughput screening is introduced to broadly explore catalyst reactivity for various substrates. When combined with multi-substrate screening, this approach allows for a much broader and more systematic understanding of reaction scope and trends. >
To overcome these limitations, the research team developed a 19F NMR-based multi-substrate simultaneous screening technology. This method involves performing asymmetric catalytic reactions with multiple reactants in a single reaction vessel, introducing a fluorine functional group into the products, and then applying their self-developed chiral cobalt reagent to clearly quantify all optical isomers using 19F NMR.
Utilizing the excellent resolution and sensitivity of 19F NMR, the research team successfully performed asymmetric synthesis reactions of 21 substrates simultaneously in a single reaction vessel and quantitatively measured the product yield and optical isomer ratio without any separate purification steps.
Professor Hyunwoo Kim stated, "While anyone can perform asymmetric synthesis reactions with multiple substrates in one reactor, accurately analyzing all the products has been a challenging problem to solve until now. We expect that achieving world-class multi-substrate screening analysis technology will greatly contribute to enhancing the analytical capabilities of AI-driven autonomous synthesis platforms."
< Figure 2. A method for analyzing multi-substrate asymmetric catalytic reactions, where different substrates react simultaneously in a single reactor, using fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance has been implemented. By utilizing the characteristics of fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance, which has a clean background signal and a wide chemical shift range, the reactivity of each substrate can be quantitatively analyzed. It is also shown that the optical activity of all reactants can be simultaneously measured using a cobalt metal complex. >
He further added, "This research provides a technology that can rapidly verify the efficiency and selectivity of asymmetric catalytic reactions essential for new drug development, and it is expected to be utilized as a core analytical tool for AI-driven autonomous research."
< Figure 3. It can be seen that in a multi-substrate reductive amination reaction using a total of 21 substrates, the yield and optical activity of the reactants according to the catalyst system were simultaneously measured using a fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance-based analysis platform. The yield of each reactant is indicated by color saturation, and the optical activity by numbers. >
Donghun Kim (first author, Integrated M.S./Ph.D. program) and Gyeongseon Choi (second author, Integrated M.S./Ph.D. program) from the KAIST Department of Chemistry participated in this research. The study was published online in the Journal of the American Chemical Society on May 27, 2025.※ Paper Title: One-pot Multisubstrate Screening for Asymmetric Catalysis Enabled by 19F NMR-based Simultaneous Chiral Analysis※ DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c03446
This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea's Mid-Career Researcher Program, the Asymmetric Catalytic Reaction Design Center, and the KAIST KC30 Project.
< Figure 4. Conceptual diagram of performing multi-substrate screening reactions and utilizing fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. >
2025.06.16 View 9194 -
“One Experiment Is All It Takes”: KAIST Team Revolutionizes Drug Interaction Testing, Replacing 60,000 Studies
A groundbreaking new method developed by researchers at KAIST and Chungnam National University could drastically streamline drug interaction testing — replacing dozens of traditional experiments with just one.
The research, led by Professor Jae Kyoung Kim of KAIST Department of Mathematical Sciences & IBS Biomedical Mathematics Group and Professor Sang Kyum Kim of Chungnam National University's College of Pharmacy, introduces a novel analysis technique called 50-BOA, published in Nature Communications on June 5, 2025.
< Photo 1. (From left) Professor Sang Kyum Kim (Chungnam National University College of Pharmacy, co-corresponding author), Dr. Yun Min Song (IBS Biomedical Mathematics Group, formerly KAIST Department of Mathematical Sciences, co-first author), undergraduate student Hyeong Jun Jang (KAIST, co-first author), Professor Jae Kyoung Kim (KAIST and IBS Biomedical Mathematics Group, co-corresponding author) (Top left in the bubble) Professor Hwi-yeol Yun (Chungnam National University College of Pharmacy, co-author) >
For decades, scientists have had to repeat drug inhibition experiments across a wide range of concentrations to estimate inhibition constants — a process seen in over 60,000 scientific publications. But the KAIST-led team discovered that a single, well-chosen inhibitor concentration can yield even more accurate results.
< Figure 1. Graphical summary of 50-BOA. 50-BOA improves the accuracy and efficiency of inhibition constant estimation by using only a single inhibitor concentration instead of the traditionally used method of employing multiple inhibitor concentrations. >
“This approach challenges long-standing assumptions in experimental pharmacology,” says Prof. Kim. “It shows how mathematics can fundamentally redesign life science experiments.”
By mathematically analyzing the sources of error in conventional methods, the team found that over half the data typically collected adds no value or even skews results. Their new method not only cuts experimental effort by over 75%, but also enhances reproducibility and accuracy.
To help researchers adopt the method quickly, the team developed a user-friendly tool that takes simple Excel files as input, now freely available on GitHub:
☞ https://github.com/Mathbiomed/50-BOA
< Figure 2. The MATLAB and R package of 50-BOA at GitHub >
The work holds promise for faster and more reliable drug development, especially in assessing potential interactions in combination therapies. The U.S. FDA already emphasizes the importance of accurate enzyme inhibition assessment during early-stage drug evaluation — and this method could soon become a new gold standard.
2025.06.16 View 8378 -
KAIST Predicts Diseases by Early Detection of Aging Signals in Liver Tissue
- KAIST-KRIBB Develops ‘FiNi-seq’ Technology to Capture Characteristics of Fibrotic Microenvironments Accumulated in Liver Tissue and Dynamic Changes of Early Aging Cells
- Elucidation of the Spatial Ecosystem of Aged Liver Tissue, where Reprogramming of Senescent Cells and Immune Exhaustion Progresses, at the Single-Cell Genome and Epigenome Levels
< (From left) Professor Jong-Eun Park of KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering (GSMSE), Dr. Chuna Kim of KRIBB, Dr. Kwon Yong Tak of KAIST GSMSE, Ph.D. Candidate Juyeon Kim of KRIBB, Ph.D. Candidate Myungsun Park of KAIST GSMSE >
Aging and chronic diseases involve the gradual accumulation of subtle tissue changes over a long period. Therefore, there are still limitations in quantitatively understanding these changes within organs and linking them to early signs of disease onset. In response, Korean researchers have successfully developed a platform technology that accurately captures localized changes that first occur within tissue, significantly aiding in faster disease discovery and prediction, and in setting personalized treatment targets.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on June 12th that a joint research team led by Professor Jong-Eun Park of the Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering at KAIST and Dr. Chuna Kim of the Aging Convergence Research Center at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB, President Seok-Yoon Kwon) has developed ‘FiNi-seq (Fibrotic Niche enrichment sequencing)’ technology. This technology captures fibrotic microenvironments locally occurring in aged liver tissue and enables precise analysis at the single-cell transcriptome level*.
*Single-cell transcriptome analysis: A method to measure how actively each cell uses which genes, allowing identification and function of individual diseased cells.
The researchers developed a method to selectively enrich early aging microenvironments where regeneration is delayed and fibrosis accumulates, by physically selecting regions with high tissue degradation resistance in aged liver tissue.
In this process, high-resolution identification of fibrosis-related endothelial cells, fibroblasts interacting with the immune system, and immune-exhausted cells such as PD-1 highly expressing CD8 T cells, which were difficult to capture with existing single-cell analysis technologies, was possible.
In particular, the research team confirmed through ‘FiNi-seq’ technology that specific cells observed in fibrotic areas within aged liver tissue secondarily age the surrounding environment through secreted factors, and that this leads to the expansion of the aged environment.
Furthermore, they also elucidated the mechanism by which endothelial cells lose their tissue-specific identity and induce innate immune responses, promoting immune cell infiltration. Through spatial transcriptome analysis, the spatial distribution of fibroblasts interacting with immune cells was quantified, revealing their involvement in tissue regeneration, induction of inflammatory responses, and progression to chronic fibrosis.
The research team performed integrated analysis of multi-omics\* data to obtain transcriptome and epigenome information, precisely interpreting the microenvironment of aged liver tissue and its spatial heterogeneity, and confirming how these changes are connected to the intrahepatic vascular structure.
*Multi-omics: An integrated analysis method for various biological information within an organism, such as genes, proteins, metabolites, and cell information.
The newly developed ‘FiNi-seq’ technology is expected to be a useful platform for high-resolution capture of pathophysiological signals in most chronic liver diseases, including the aging process that causes fibrosis.
< Figure 1. Isolation of fibrotic regions from aged liver tissue, followed by single-cell transcriptome analysis and validation in a fibrosis model. >
The first author, Dr. Kwon Yong Tak of KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering (GSMSE), a hepatologist at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, designed this study to lay the groundwork for early diagnosis and treatment of fibrosis progression, the most important clinical prognostic indicator in chronic liver disease, while pursuing his Ph.D. at KAIST KAIST GSMSE with support from the physician-scientist training program. Co-first author Myungsun Park, a Ph.D. candidate at KAIST KAIST GSMSE, was responsible for the technical implementation of FiNi-seq technology, and Juyeon Kim, a Ph.D. candidate at KRIBB's Aging Convergence Research Center, was responsible for imaging analysis of aged tissue, playing a key role in the research.
Dr. Chuna Kim of KRIBB stated, “Through this study, we were able to precisely elucidate the cellular composition and spatial characteristics of the fibrotic microenvironment observed in aged liver tissue at the single-cell level.”
< Figure 2. Spatially defined stepwise progression patterns of aging-related regions within the liver and identification of regulatory factors inducing them. >
Professor Jong-Eun Park of the Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering said, “As an analytical technology that can capture subtle changes occurring in the early stages of aging and chronic diseases, it is expected to play a significant role in finding effective treatment targets in the future. Also, we plan to expand this research to chronic diseases in other organs such as the lungs and kidneys, as well as various liver disease models.”
This research was published in the international journal ‘Nature Aging’ on May 5, 2025, with Dr. Kwon Yong Tak of KAIST KAIST GSMSE, Ph.D. Candidate Juyeon Kim of KRIBB, and Ph.D. Candidate Myungsun Park of KAIST as co-first authors.
*Paper Title: Quasi-spatial single-cell transcriptome based on physical tissue properties defines early aging associated niche in liver
*DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-025-00857-7
This research was supported by several domestic institutions, including the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), KIST, POSCO Science Fellowship, and the Convergence Medical Scientist Training Program.
2025.06.12 View 6467 -
KAIST Professor Jee-Hwan Ryu Receives Global IEEE Robotics Journal Best Paper Award
- Professor Jee-Hwan Ryu of Civil and Environmental Engineering receives the Best Paper Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Robotics Journal, officially presented at ICRA, a world-renowned robotics conference.
- This is the highest level of international recognition, awarded to only the top 5 papers out of approximately 1,500 published in 2024.
- Securing a new working channel technology for soft growing robots expands the practicality and application possibilities in the field of soft robotics.
< Professor Jee-Hwan Ryu (left), Nam Gyun Kim, Ph.D. Candidate (right) from the KAIST Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and KAIST Robotics Program >
KAIST (President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on the 6th that Professor Jee-Hwan Ryu from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering received the 2024 Best Paper Award from the Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L), a premier journal under the IEEE, at the '2025 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA)' held in Atlanta, USA, on May 22nd.
This Best Paper Award is a prestigious honor presented to only the top 5 papers out of approximately 1,500 published in 2024, boasting high international competition and authority.
The award-winning paper by Professor Ryu proposes a novel working channel securing mechanism that significantly expands the practicality and application possibilities of 'Soft Growing Robots,' which are based on soft materials that move or perform tasks through a growing motion similar to plant roots.
< IEEE Robotics Journal Award Ceremony >
Existing soft growing robots move by inflating or contracting their bodies through increasing or decreasing internal pressure, which can lead to blockages in their internal passages. In contrast, the newly developed soft growing robot achieves a growing function while maintaining the internal passage pressure equal to the external atmospheric pressure, thereby successfully securing an internal passage while retaining the robot's flexible and soft characteristics.
This structure allows various materials or tools to be freely delivered through the internal passage (working channel) within the robot and offers the advantage of performing multi-purpose tasks by flexibly replacing equipment according to the working environment.
The research team fabricated a prototype to prove the effectiveness of this technology and verified its performance through various experiments. Specifically, in the slide plate experiment, they confirmed whether materials or equipment could pass through the robot's internal channel without obstruction, and in the pipe pulling experiment, they verified if a long pipe-shaped tool could be pulled through the internal channel.
< Figure 1. Overall hardware structure of the proposed soft growing robot (left) and a cross-sectional view composing the inflatable structure (right) >
Experimental results demonstrated that the internal channel remained stable even while the robot was growing, serving as a key basis for supporting the technology's practicality and scalability.
Professor Jee-Hwan Ryu stated, "This award is very meaningful as it signifies the global recognition of Korea's robotics technology and academic achievements. Especially, it holds great significance in achieving technical progress that can greatly expand the practicality and application fields of soft growing robots. This achievement was possible thanks to the dedication and collaboration of the research team, and I will continue to contribute to the development of robotics technology through innovative research."
< Figure 2. Material supplying mechanism of the Soft Growing Robot >
This research was co-authored by Dongoh Seo, Ph.D. Candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Nam Gyun Kim, Ph.D. Candidate in Robotics. It was published in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters on September 1, 2024.
(Paper Title: Inflatable-Structure-Based Working-Channel Securing Mechanism for Soft Growing Robots, DOI: 10.1109/LRA.2024.3426322)
This project was supported simultaneously by the National Research Foundation of Korea's Future Promising Convergence Technology Pioneer Research Project and Mid-career Researcher Project.
2025.06.09 View 9731