POSTECH and the Korean Army sign an agreement to advance military science and technology in artificial intelligence, drone bots and lasers.

The agreement signing ceremony between POSTECH and the ROK Army was held on July 14th at the Gyeryongdae Complex of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in South Chungcheong Province. Army Chief of Staff Jeong-Hwan Park, President Moo Hwan Kim POSTECH and about ten officials from both organizations participated in the ceremony.

The agreement will enable the Korean Army to collaborate with POSTECH’s research institutes that focus on AI, drone bots and lasers to strengthen practical exchange and cooperation needed to advance military science and technology. The partnership will help the Army build up its Army TIGER unit, equipped with advanced technology.

POSTECH’s research institutes that will strengthen the cooperation with the Army include the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (lasers), Intelligent Robot Research Center (drone bots), Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Next-Generation Defense Convergence Technology Research Center (Warrior Platform and drone bots).

At the signing ceremony, the two organizations agreed to launch POSTECH commissioned education and practical training programs to nurture and secure outstanding workforce in science and technology. They also agreed to find ways to build a specialized center for research cooperation.

POSTECH has also been building cooperative relationships to develop and advance future military science and technology with the Air Force Headquarters and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) to further the next-generational military science research.

Kyung-Tae Kim, the director of POSTECH’s Next-Generation Defense Convergence Technology Research Center, said that they “plan to focus more on the project, which can directly conduct research and develop basic and applied areas that are necessary to build training programs for military researchers and weapons development.” He added, “We hope that POSTECH’s efforts can become the powerful driving force that can support Defense Innovation 4.0, which the Ministry of National Defense is currently working on.”