UNIST has entered into a joint research partnership with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (KHNP) to advance the development of AI-driven energy and nuclear technologies.
The agreement was signed on January 20 at UNIST, launching a three-year industry-academia collaboration through January 2029, with a total investment of KRW 10 billion. The partnership focuses on strengthening the practical application of AI across the energy and nuclear sectors.
Led by UNIST, the program will be directed by Professor Deokjung Lee of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at UNIST. The project will be participated by the Department of Nuclear Engineering, the Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence, the Graduate School of Carbon Neutrality, the U-Future Strategy Institute, and the Navatus Graduate School. KAIST and FNC Technology Co., Ltd. will join as co-research institutions.
UNIST and KHNP officials, including Vice President Hyun Sil Ahn for Research Affairs, pose for a commemorative photo following the signing of the joint research agreement.
The collaboration also brings together a broad network of academic and industry partners-including KEPCO KPS Research Institute, Pusan National University, the University of Ulsan, NovaTech Co., Ltd., and ENU Co., Ltd.-to enhance research integration and technical collaboration.
The signing ceremony was attended by Vice President Hyun Sil Ahn for Research Affairs, Dean Kwan-Myung Kim of the Office of Research Affairs at UNIST, Director Deokjung Lee of Advanced Nuclear Energy System Institute, Executive Vice-President Hee-Seung Jang of KHNP's Quality & Technology Division, along with principal investigators from participating institutions, including Professor Yonghee Kim of KAIST and Senior Manager Daeyoung Lee at FNC Technology Co., Ltd.
"This partnership brings together UNIST's research strengths and KHNP's field-based expertise," said UNIST President Chong-Rae Park. "By applying AI to energy and nuclear technologies, we aim to strengthen national technological competitiveness, while cultivating highly-skilled future talent."
Through the agreement, the two institutions will jointly pursue the development of core AI-based technologies, reinforce the industry-academia-research collaboration ecosystem, and support workforce development for next-generation energy innovation.
