Seoul National University opens AI semiconductor innovation research institute

Seoul National University has launched the AI Semiconductor Innovation Research Institute to advance next-generation artificial intelligence chip technology and cultivate specialized talent. Established in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute of Information & communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), the institute aims to produce more than 110 master’s and doctoral-level experts over the next six years.

The research center is organized into five specialized units led by Professor Ryu Su-jeong. It operates through an industry-academic cooperation model involving companies such as LG Electronics, FuriosaAI, GenosCube Korea, Analog AI, and Squeezebits. This partnership is designed to link research, technical evaluation, and industrial demand, providing students with practical experience through internships and corporate dispatch programs.

A key requirement for upcoming research projects is the focus on Neural Processing Units (NPUs) to ensure expertise in high-performance, low-power AI computing. The South Korean government plans to support the institute with an average annual budget of 2 billion won for up to six years. This initiative expands the national AI semiconductor talent program, which already includes research institutes at Yonsei University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Hanyang University.