Seoul AI Hub Establishes Air Force AX Base... Military-Industry-Academia Collaboration

Seoul AI Hub and Air Force Aerospace Combat Development Group Sign MOU
Industrial AX Support Links With Air Force AI Demands
Joint Research Based on Air Force Open Innovation Achievements

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is fostering the Seoul AI Hub, a base for the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, as a collaborative platform that connects AI innovation to the defense sector.

To this end, on July 3, the Seoul Metropolitan Government signed a Financial business agreement for AI exchange and cooperation between the Seoul AI Hub and the Air Force Aerospace Combat Development Group. Established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government as a hub for nurturing the AI industry, the Seoul AI Hub not only supports the growth of AI startups, but also facilitates the adoption of AI in the field through AI technology Proof of Concept (PoC), enterprise AI transformation (AX), and open innovation. In December last year, the Industrial AX Innovation Center was opened to connect the demands for AI transformation in the industrial field with outstanding AI startups.

The scene from last year's inauguration ceremony of the 'AX Innovation Center' in Seocho-gu, Seoul, attended by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. The Asia Business Daily

This year, the AX support program is helping Seoul-based companies transition to AI. Based on this operational experience, the plan is to expand AI proof-of-concept and collaborative models in the defense sector as well.

Previously, in 2024, the Seoul AI Hub and the Air Force launched the Air Force AI Convergence Center within the Seoul AI Hub and promoted open innovation projects based on the technology demands of the Air Force. This is a civil-military cooperation model that goes beyond simple agreements by actually connecting the AI needs of the Air Force with startup technologies. In the Seoul AI Hub’s open innovation program, AI demonstration projects were carried out based on the real operational needs of the Air Force, including supporting flight safety using AI-based weather prediction and automating military document creation with generative AI.

This latest agreement reflects changes in the cooperative environment, such as the establishment and operation of an Air Force AX hub and the change of the contracting entity from the Air Force AI Convergence Center to the Air Force Aerospace Combat Development Group. In particular, the Air Force AX hub within the Seoul AI Hub’s Industrial AX Innovation Center will serve as a focal point to connect the Air Force’s AI demands with the innovative technologies of companies housed in or affiliated with the Seoul AI Hub. Joint research and technology demonstration based on defense data, as well as the demonstration and commercialization of defense technologies by AI startups, will also be actively supported.

Additionally, the initiative includes AI technology exchange and cooperation between the Air Force Aerospace Combat Development Group and the Seoul AI Hub; establishment, operation, and support of the Air Force AX hub within the Industrial AX Innovation Center; joint research and technology demonstration in the field of defense AI; and the development of industry-academia-research collaboration projects in the defense AI sector.

Lee Sooyeon, policy chief for economic affairs at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "AI competitiveness depends on how quickly technology can be applied in real-world settings. The Seoul AI Hub will establish itself as a platform that connects AI innovation beyond industry to the defense sector, and we will actively support outstanding AI startups so that they can validate and grow their technologies in industrial, public, and defense sectors."

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