Busan University to launch converged security graduate school with 60bn won funding

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Promotion (IITP) selected Busan University as the sole recipient of the 2026 Converged Security Core Talent Development Project. The five‑and‑a‑half‑year programme, running until December 2031, will receive a total of 60.5 billion won (55 billion won national funding plus 5.5 billion won municipal funding).

The new graduate school will train PhD‑level specialists to protect Busan’s key industries—maritime, ports, shipbuilding and manufacturing—by integrating artificial‑intelligence and blockchain technologies into a “digital shield.” It will combine classroom instruction with industry‑driven projects, internships and direct job placement, aiming to keep talent in the region and boost the digital competitiveness of local firms.

City officials said, “In the era of digital transformation, security is now a core element of corporate competitiveness,” and pledged support to ensure the graduates can help regional companies meet growing global security regulations.