(Seoul=Yonhap Infomax) Jung Woo Choi = The Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), HD Hyundai, and University of Ulsan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on November 20 at the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center to collaborate on AI technology development for the shipbuilding and marine industries.


Shipbuilding and Marine Industry AI Technology Development MOU Signing
At the 'Shipbuilding and Marine Industry AI Technology Development MOU Signing Ceremony' held on the 20th, Vice Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon (from left), UNIST President Park Jong-rae, and HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun pose for a commemorative photo. [Source: Ministry of Science and ICT]


Government representatives at the signing ceremony included Bae Kyung-hoon, Vice Minister of Science and ICT, and Park Dong-il, Director General for Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Academic representatives included Park Jong-rae, President of UNIST, while the corporate sector was represented by Chung Ki-sun, Chairman of HD Hyundai.


Vice Minister Bae, who attended the event immediately after returning from a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), stated, "The UAE is eager to strengthen cooperation with South Korea," adding, "Following the summit, there were informal discussions about constructing a physical AI port in the UAE," highlighting the global standing of 'K-Shipbuilding.'


He continued, "South Korea is the world’s leading nation in shipbuilding and marine industries," and expressed confidence that "HD Hyundai will play a pivotal role in creating a global success story that extends beyond Korea."


The agreement aims to reinforce the foundation for industry-academia cooperation to ensure sustainable growth and technological innovation in the shipbuilding and marine sectors, and to promote mutual advancement in cutting-edge technologies such as AI.


Under the MOU, the government, UNIST, HD Hyundai, and other parties will jointly develop AI foundation models tailored for shipbuilding, create AI-based autonomous process platforms and systems, build a data ecosystem, and foster specialized talent.


Additionally, core technologies and know-how in shipbuilding will be transformed into AI-powered digital national strategic assets, to be leveraged as resources for maintaining a global competitive edge.


HD Hyundai plans to further accelerate its AI transformation, playing a key role in the government’s goal of making South Korea one of the world’s top three AI powerhouses. The company also aims to expedite the Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation project, MASGA (Maritime AI Shipbuilding Global Alliance).


In his congratulatory remarks, Chairman Chung Ki-sun said, "Traditional manufacturing must integrate AI faster and more precisely than China to achieve tangible results such as cost reduction and improved vessel fuel efficiency." He added, "AI transformation cannot be achieved by companies alone. We hope the sovereign AI under development will be competitive with Chinese and US models in terms of performance, efficiency, and price."


Chung further stated, "The competitiveness of future shipyards will depend on the utilization of AI technologies," and expressed expectations that "this industry-academia technology alliance will serve as a catalyst for building HD Hyundai’s AI technology ecosystem."


jwchoi2@yna.co.kr


(End)

All content has been translated by AI.
Copyright © Yonhap Infomax Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited.