Pohang to establish 24 billion KRW steel industry AI hub

Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, has been selected for the 'Steel Industry AI Convergence Demonstration Hub' project, a government initiative aimed at driving artificial intelligence transformation within the steel sector. From 2026 to 2030, a total of 24 billion KRW (12 billion KRW in national funds and 12 billion KRW in local funds) will be invested to establish a specialized AI convergence demonstration center at the Blue Valley National Industrial Complex.

The center will feature high-performance GPU-based computing infrastructure and a dedicated data center designed to help mid-sized and small-to-medium steel enterprises collect, refine, and utilize industrial data. This infrastructure is intended to address the high costs and lack of resources currently hindering AI adoption among local companies.

Key areas of AI application include optimizing production processes, quality control, predictive maintenance for equipment, and enhancing industrial safety through early detection of risk signs. The project aims to transition the steel industry toward a data-driven decision-making system to improve productivity, reduce defect rates, and enhance manufacturing competitiveness.