International Affairs Team

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UNIST Holds First University-Wide Alumni Homecoming

On September 11, UNIST welcomed alumni from across graduating classes back to campus for its first university-wide homecoming, bringing graduates together with current students for a day of reunions, mentoring, and campus programs. More than 200 alumni, family members, and guests attended the 2026 UNIST Homecoming: BACK to U, held across Kyungdong Hall, Nobel Garden, and other campus venues. The program combined alumni reunions with mentoring, campus activities, and conversations about how UNIST has changed since its early years. Hosted by Cheol-Hyeon Park, a 2011 alumnus of the Department of Design and now a stand-up comedian, the homecoming began with archival footage from UNIST's early years. Current students then shared how campus life has changed over time, while Tae-Gyu Han, a 2011 alumnus and Director of UNIST Technology Holdings, traced the university's development since its founding. With UNIST approaching its 20th anniversary in 2027, President Chong Rae Park encouraged graduates to bring their experience back to campus and share it with current students. “You have helped shape UNIST's history and have since built experience in many different fields,” Park said. “I hope you will bring that experience back to campus and share it with the students who follow you.” An alumni talk session brought together graduates working in industry, research, education, entrepreneurship, and finance. They discussed their careers and professional experiences, while students joined conversations organized around their interests and career paths. UNIST also recognized nine alumni who helped establish and develop the university's alumni association, including its first president, Hoon Hahn Yoon, and second president, Sung Hwan Kim. During the homecoming, additional graduates joined the association, and several made voluntary contributions to support the university and its students. “Returning to campus brought back a sense of pride and connection to UNIST that I had lost touch with since graduation,” one alumnus said. “It was also reassuring to see the university continuing to reach out to its graduates and keep us connected.” Following a campus tour and dinner, alumni and students gathered at Nobel Garden for an evening of performances by student organizations, including the UNIST cheerleading team UNICH . The university plans to build on the homecoming by expanding opportunities for alumni to engage with students through mentoring, university programs, and philanthropic support.

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Kiturami Group Expands Scholarship Support for UNIST Students

Kiturami Group has doubled its first scholarship commitment to UNIST, providing KRW 100 million to 50 students to support their studies and research. The group initially planned to award KRW 50 million to 25 students but expanded both the funding and the number of recipients. Each student will receive KRW 2 million. The scholarships were presented on September 11 at UNIST, with Kiturami Group Chairman Jin-Min Choi and UNIST President Chong Rae Park joining students and representatives from both institutions. “This scholarship reflects Kiturami Group’s confidence and support for the next generation of scientists and engineers,” President Park said. “I hope our students will carry that spirit of giving forward and, in time, contribute to society in their own ways.” “We hope these scholarships will give UNIST students greater freedom to focus on their studies and research and pursue their potential,” Chairman Choi said. “We will continue supporting students as they develop their creativity and prepare to contribute on the global stage.” Kiturami Group has supported approximately 70,000 scholarship recipients over the past 41 years, with cumulative social contributions totaling about KRW 65 billion through its cultural and welfare foundations. Its philanthropic programs also extend to science and engineering. Since 1997, the group has funded the prize money for the National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK) Award, increasing its support to KRW 600 million this year. It also established the Kiturami Academic Awards with four major mechanical engineering societies in 2025, providing a combined KRW 150 million.

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UNIST Technology Holdings Expands Regional VC Role with New Tourism AI Fund

UNIST Holdings has been selected to manage a new venture fund focused on companies applying artificial intelligence (AI) to tourism, expanding its investment activities following its transition to a licensed venture capital firm earlier this year. Selected as a general partner (GP) under Korea's government-backed Fund of Funds program, UNIST Holdings plans to establish the KRW 15.4 billion fund by November, including KRW 10 billion in public investment. The fund will target companies, using AI to enter or expand into tourism-related businesses. The initiative will combine investment with access to UNIST technologies, helping regional startups apply AI to new products and services in tourism. The approach is intended to give early-stage companies both the financing and technical resources needed to expand into the sector. This marks the second time UNIST Holdings has been selected to manage a fund under Korea's Fund of Funds program. Last year, it established a KRW 12 billion fund for public technology commercialization. If the new tourism AI fund is formed as planned, the total size of funds under its management will exceed KRW 38 billion. The new fund also builds on UNIST Holdings' transition into a licensed venture capital firm in April. Previously focused primarily on early-stage startup investment and incubation, the company can now establish and manage larger funds and provide follow-on financing as companies grow. UNIST Holdings plans to use that expanded role to support deep-tech companies beyond their initial stages, combining investment with technology commercialization and access to university research. “Building a strong startup environment in southeastern Korea is an important part of UNIST’s role,” said UNIST President Chong Rae Park. “We will strengthen our investment capabilities and support technology commercialization so that university research can translate into growth opportunities for regional companies.” “We want to help early-stage companies use UNIST technologies to build competitive business in tourism AI,” said Tae-Gyu Han, Director of UNIST Holdings. “By connecting promising companies with technology and investment, we aim to create stronger pathways for regional startups to grow.”

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UNIST and University of Ulsan Students Explore AI Innovation in Germany

Thirty students from UNIST and the University of Ulsan took their joint research internship to Germany this month, visiting research laboratories, technology companies, and IFA 2026 in Berlin and Leipzig. The September 1–8 program brought together 15 students from each university who are conducting undergraduate research in AI and digital transformation. Their visits offered a firsthand look at research and technology development in smart mobility, energy, AI, and related fields. The students visited the Smart City Lab in Leipzig, TU Berlin's Smart Mobility Lab, Mobility2Grid, Fraunhofer research institutes, and Siemensstadt Square, where they learned about university-industry research and the development of technologies for smart mobility, energy systems, and digital transformation. They also met with VEECLE, a software company working at the intersection of AI agents and hardware, and 123Factory, which supports Korean startups entering European markets. The meetings introduced students to different paths from technology development to commercialization and international expansion. At IFA 2026, students focused on ambient AI and smart-home technologies, embedded AI and intelligent robotics, digital health, sustainable energy, and on-device AI. Through guided sessions and independent visits, teams examined emerging technologies and considered their potential applications and relevance to Korean industry. The trip was part of the InnoCORE Research Internship Program, jointly operated by UNIST and the University of Ulsan's RISE project. Students presented their research progress at an interim session at UNIST in August and will reconvene in October for a final presentation covering the internship and overseas program.

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UNIST to Lead Southeastern Korea’s Regional R&D Program

UNIST will lead a new R&D program designed to move emerging technologies more quickly from research into manufacturing across southeastern Korea. The program brings together local governments, universities, research institutes, and companies in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region, with KRW 13.1 billion allocated to nine projects in 2026. Research will center on three areas tied closely to the region's manufacturing base—shipbuilding AX, power semiconductors, and advanced aviation technologies. The program is part of the Korean government's region-led R&D initiative, known domestically as the '4-Pole, 3-Special' framework. It gives regions greater responsibility for identifying technology priorities and organizing research around their industrial strengths, with institutes of science and technology and government-funded research institutes involved from planning through implementation. For southeastern Korea, UNIST will coordinate the regional program and develop projects around technology needs identified by industry. Participating companies will contribute manufacturing data, prototypes, and production facilities from the planning stage, allowing technologies to progress from fundamental research and prototyping to field validation, testing, certification, and commercialization. The approach draws on the complementary industrial strengths of the three regions—Busan in testing, certification, and commercialization, Ulsan in manufacturing and industrial-scale validation, and Gyeongnam in advanced manufacturing, materials, and performance testing. In shipbuilding AX, researchers will develop physical AI systems for autonomous manufacturing processes and intelligent inspection technologies for shipbuilding equipment. Using real manufacturing data and production environments, the projects will target improvements in productivity and quality. The power semiconductor program will focus on next-generation materials, substrates, and devices for high-voltage, high-efficiency systems. Research will also cover power conversion, modules and packaging, and reliability testing, linking technology development with industrial validation and certification. In advanced aviation, researchers will work on next-generation propulsion and drive systems, high-efficiency batteries and hybrid power systems, and advanced materials and manufacturing processes. The technologies will be tested through the region's aerospace manufacturing infrastructure, with the aim of accelerating their entry into domestic and international supply chains. The program also includes K-UBRC, a university-linked initiative that will connect retired scientists and engineers with professionals in regional industries. The initiative will support collaborative research, industry problem-solving, workforce development, and technology commercialization. Of the KRW 13.1 billion allocated to southeastern Korea this year, KRW 4.33 billion will support shipbuilding AX, with KRW 4 billion each for power semiconductors and advanced aviation technologies. Another KRW 770 million will support cross-sector initiatives, including K-UBRC. Nine projects are expected to be selected in October, with research beginning after agreements are finalized. A proposed longer-term plan calls for KRW 253.1 billion in national and local government investment from 2026 through 2030. The funding would expand technology development, industrial validation, and commercialization, although future investment will depend on annual government budgets and program performance. “The challenge for southeastern Korea is to turn its existing manufacturing strengths into an advantage in emerging technologies—and to do so faster,” said Taesik Yoon, Director of the southeastern regional R&D program. “By connecting fundamental research directly with field validation and production, we aim to move proven technologies into industry without unnecessary gaps.” “Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam can combine their respective strengths to define and pursue a shared path for growth,” said UNIST President Chong Rae Park. “UNIST will bring together industries, universities, and research institutes to strengthen southeastern Korea’s capabilities in technology, manufacturing, and talent.”