Kakao and Four Major Institutes of Science and Technology Join Forces for Talent Development: "100 AI Startup Teams to Be Discovered by 2030"

Establishment of the Startup Initiative "Kakao AI Dot"

Kakao Group, together with the four leading Institutes of Science and Technology, is establishing an initiative called "Kakao AI Dot" to foster regional artificial intelligence (AI) talent and support startups.

On the 23rd, at the Daejeon KAIST Academic and Cultural Center, (from left) DGIST President Lee Gunwoo, GIST President Lim Gicheol, Kakao Group Chairperson Jeong Shina, Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyunghun, KAIST President Lee Kwanghyung, and UNIST President Park Jongrae attended and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for AI talent development. Provided by Kakao.

On March 23, Kakao announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the cultivation of AI talent with Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) at KAIST in Daejeon.

Kakao AI Dot is being launched based on a 50 billion won AI development fund announced last September. Its purpose is to build an AI ecosystem and accelerate industrialization in non-capital regions, which have been relatively overlooked in terms of AI investment and infrastructure.

Kakao AI Dot plans to establish an AI-driven virtuous cycle model for balanced regional growth. To this end, it aims to discover 100 AI startup teams by 2030 and nurture them into innovative companies with global competitiveness. It will commercialize the deep tech capabilities of the four institutes and help field-ready talent start their own businesses.

Chung Shina, Chairperson of Kakao Group, stated, "The advent of the AI era provides opportunities for even one-person companies to rapidly grow into global unicorns," adding, "We will serve as a reliable sail that enables AI innovation companies from the regions to successfully expand onto the global stage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.