Gyeongbuk Province initiates AI transformation projects in South Korea

Gyeongbuk Province is launching multiple initiatives to drive artificial intelligence (AI) integration across regional industries.

In Pohang, a project valued at approximately 22.1 billion KRW is underway to implement AI transformation (AX) within the steel industrial complex. Konan Technology is participating in this initiative to develop AI agents and service platforms that convert the tacit knowledge and operational expertise of skilled workers into digital assets. The project aims to enhance supply chain competitiveness by applying AI to production, equipment, quality, and logistics processes. The initiative, which runs from August 2026 to December 2029, involves 13 institutions, including Dongkuk Steel and the Pohang Institute of Industrial Science & Technology (RIST).

Simultaneously, Gyeongbuk Province has partnered with FuriosaAI to establish a demonstration hub for domestic AI semiconductors in Gyeongsan. This collaboration focuses on verifying the field applicability of locally developed Neural Processing Units (NPUs) within the manufacturing, robotics, and mobility sectors. By integrating FuriosaAI’s NPUs into the 'Hyper-scale AI Cloud Farm' operated by the Gyeongbuk IT Convergence Industry Institute, regional companies will be able to test and commercialize AI models without the need for expensive independent computing infrastructure.