KAIST AI-driven innovation strategy

KAIST President Bae Chung-sik has introduced a strategic vision to transform the institution into an ‘AI Native Campus.’ The initiative, centered on the ‘Beyond 5’ development strategy, aims to integrate artificial intelligence across all university pillars, including education, research, administration, and sustainability.

The strategy includes expanding AI usage across all disciplines, promoting entrepreneurship through the ‘Beyond Laboratory’ pillar, and fostering global cooperation. Specific academic reforms involve redesigning curricula into three AI-utilization levels to guide students from basic reasoning to leading AI systems.

To bridge academia and industry, the university plans to establish ‘AI Autonomous Labs’ and ‘Satellite Labs’ in partnership with corporations. Research will focus on ‘Physical AI’—such as robotics and autonomous driving—and convergence fields like AI-quantum and AI-bio. Additionally, the university will strengthen its startup ecosystem by involving industry leaders, such as Naver founder Lee Hae-jin and Krafton Chairman Jang Byung-gyu, in an Entrepreneurship Education Innovation Committee.