Yeungnam University Selected for 'AI Star Fellowship' to Foster World-Class AI Researchers...Receives 11 Billion Won in Government Funding

Professor Seongho Kim to Lead the Project
SL and Other Companies Join the Initiative

Yeungnam University (President Choi Oechul) announced on September 14 that it has been finally selected for the '2026 AI Advanced Emerging Researcher Support Project (AI Star Fellowship),' promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP). The university secured its place in the newly established 'Region-Led Industry-Academic Cooperation Track,' which was launched this year to restructure the training system for top-tier AI talent—previously concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area—into a region-led model.

The AI Advanced Emerging Researcher Support Project is a program backed by the Ministry of Science and ICT and IITP to foster new researchers who will lead world-class AI research. The project is carried out in the form of joint research projects, where early-career researchers take the lead and multiple research labs and companies collaborate.

Faculty participating in Yeungnam University AI Advanced Emerging Researcher Support Project (first row from left: Minjae Kim, Nohgeun Park, Gyusang Choi, Sangsoo Paek, Chan Lee; second row from left: Kidong Lee, Junmo Yang, Namgyu Kwon, Yoojae Song, Sungho Kim)

From July 2026 to December 2031, Yeungnam University will receive 11 billion won from the national budget over five years and six months. The university will form the 'Humanoid Manufacturing AI Nexus: HuMAN' team, which will be overseen in total by Professor Seongho Kim of the Department of Electronic Engineering.

The main project at Yeungnam University involves 'nurturing top-tier AI emerging researchers through the development of core humanoid AI technologies specialized for manufacturing, based on regional industry-academic cooperation.' The project aims to develop and integrate key AI technologies required for deploying humanoid robots—robots resembling humans and capable of performing human-like tasks—on manufacturing sites, divided into three components: 'brain,' 'body,' and 'hand,' all within a single value chain.

The 'brain' segment focuses on ultra-low-power AI semiconductors that mimic human neural networks to make real-time decisions with minimal energy; leading this area are Professors Minjae Kim and Nogun Park (Department of Materials Science and Engineering), Professor Kyusang Choi (Department of Computer Science), and Professor Sangsoo Baek (Department of Environmental Engineering). The 'body' involves developing humanoid design and operation platforms optimized for manufacturing tasks, led by Professor Chan Lee, Professor Kidong Lee, and Professor Junmo Yang (all from the Department of Robotics Engineering). The 'hand' covers autonomous manipulation and work intelligence, enabling robots to visually identify and handle parts independently; this area is led by Professor Namgyu Kwon (Department of Electronic Engineering), Professor Yoojae Song (Department of Robotics Engineering), and Professor Seongho Kim (Department of Electronic Engineering). Out of the 10 participating faculty members, six are emerging researchers, ensuring that young researchers directly lead the studies while senior professors provide mentoring and support for industry-academia collaboration.

Local companies are also providing practical, real-world settings outside of research labs to support the project. Edge AI solution provider S&M Co., Ltd. will handle the industrial application and commercialization of the ultra-low-power AI semiconductor technology. SL Co., Ltd., a leading automotive parts company based in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, will conduct demonstrations of humanoids in automotive manufacturing environments. Kosello Co., Ltd., a company specializing in humanoids, will manage the demonstration and commercialization of autonomous manipulation technologies.

The participating companies will supply on-site data, environments for proof-of-concept, and on-site mentoring, while also working with the university on technology transfer and employment matching, thereby creating a structure in which university research outcomes enhance the competitiveness of local businesses and translate into jobs for local youth.

This collaboration follows North Gyeongsang Province's selection of Yeungnam University as the anchor university for nurturing regional AI talent and the establishment of the 'Gyeongbuk AI Convergence Center.' Yeungnam University is thereby establishing itself as the undisputed central institution for AI innovation in North Gyeongsang Province. Furthermore, this initiative is directly connected with government strategies to promote five regional economic hubs and three specialized development zones, as well as with Daegu-North Gyeongsang's strategic industries in semiconductors, future mobility, and advanced robotics.

The research team aims to produce 48 AI professionals at the master's and Ph.D. level, achieve 15 on-site proofs of concept (PoC) with companies, and register 10 instances of technology transfer or software during the project period. They plan to combine graduate education with enterprise field work to solve real-world problems through research, and to link those outcomes to publications, patents, technology transfers, and employment—thereby constructing a 'field-problem-solving' talent development platform.

Should humanoid AI technologies be applied to inspection, maintenance, and assembly processes of small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses in the North Gyeongsang and Daegu regions—industries that are currently struggling with workforce shortages—productivity improvements and the AI transformation (AX) will accelerate. Additionally, this is expected to spur the formation of a Daegu-North Gyeongsang physical AI cluster and help advanced AI talent take root in the region, ultimately revitalizing the local industry overall.

Professor Seongho Kim of the Department of Electronic Engineering, who leads the project, stated, "This initiative marks the starting point for transforming the Seoul-focused AI advanced talent training system into a region-led model. We will do our utmost to demonstrate core physical AI technologies—from ultra-low-power AI semiconductors to autonomous humanoid work intelligence—in local businesses, and to develop elite emerging AI researchers who will drive the region's AI transformation."

Choi Oechul, President of Yeungnam University, stressed, "We will spare no effort in ensuring that young researchers achieve world-class research results and that these outcomes lead to regional industrial innovation. By building a convergent research ecosystem encompassing advanced industries such as AI, robotics, and semiconductors, we will advance as a central university—strengthening the future competitiveness of both the region and the nation."

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