ETRI announces vision for autonomous AI scientists by 2035

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has unveiled a new R&D strategy aimed at positioning South Korea as a top-three global AI powerhouse. During the ‘ETRI Conference 2026’, President Park Se-woong announced a vision to develop an ‘AI scientist with the level of a laboratory director’ by 2035. This system is intended to autonomously perform the entire research cycle, including hypothesis generation, experimentation, analysis, and verification.

To achieve this, ETRI will focus on five key areas: AI, Physical AI, 6G/satellite communications, spatial media, and AI-driven Digital Transformation (DX). The institute also plans to establish an AI Data Center (AIDC) infrastructure, described as a ‘token factory’ that converts power and data into AI computing power.

On the academic and management front, ETRI aims to account for 20% of South Korea’s top-tier research papers by 2030. The institute plans to shift its business model, increasing mission-oriented research from 22% to 90% of its total research projects by 2030, while reducing competitive commissioned projects.