Imperial and Seoul AI Hub form partnership to develop AI research programme

Imperial and South Korea’s Seoul AI Hub have signed a partnership to develop an AI research and technology programme.

The collaboration will enable some of South Korea’s most promising startups to work closely with Imperial’s world-leading AI researchers.

The two institutions plan to launch a joint research pilot programme later this year and gradually expand the scope of cooperation to include:

• joint research projects
• researcher exchange programmes  
• education and entrepreneurship programs
• technology commercialisation
• connecting with investor networks
• support for market expansion
• university-industry collaboration programmes.

Through the programme, South Korean startups will have opportunity to develop close links with academics and businesses across Imperial’s White City Deep Tech Campus. The campus is home to more than 5,000 researchers, scientists, engineers and innovators, who are co-located alongside a thriving community of more than a hundred pioneering deep tech companies.

Imperial’s White City Deep Tech Campus is part of the White City Innovation District and sits at the heart of WestTech London, a place-based innovation ecosystem, established and anchored by Imperial, which brings together world-class research, global talent, industry and infrastructure to create jobs, attract investment, drive growth, and cement the UK’s position as a leader in science and technology.  

Imperial’s School of Convergence Science and Digital Foundry will lead the research programme alongside the Seoul AI Hub, which is a public, non-for-profit incubator/accelerator for AI startups funded by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and operated by the Seoul National University Institute of Engineering Research and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute.

The partnership is supported by the UK Government’s Office for Investment (OFI), Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The agreement was signed at the British Embassy in Seoul, establishing a framework for cooperation.

Imperial’s Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) Professor Mary Ryan said: "This exciting partnership with the Seoul AI Hub reflects Imperial's commitment to building collaborations that connect our research and innovation ecosystem with leading technology initiatives around the world. Bringing together Imperial's AI research capabilities with some of South Korea's most promising startups will create new opportunities for innovation, develop transformative technologies, and drive real-world impact on a global scale." 
 
Byun Woo-seok, Director of Seoul AI Hub, said: “Our partnership with Imperial College London represents an important turning point in taking Seoul AI Hub’s global research collaboration strategy to the next level. We will continue to expand cooperation with leading research institutions around the world so that Korean AI startups can access growth opportunities spanning the entire journey from R&D and technology commercialization to expansion into global markets.” 
 
John Edwards, Director of UK Office for Investment, said: “The UK offers one of the most dynamic environments in the world for AI companies looking to innovate, attract investment and accelerate growth. By connecting some of South Korea’s most ambitious AI startups with the world-class research ecosystem at Imperial College London, we are creating a powerful platform for breakthrough technologies to be developed, commercialised and scaled internationally. This is an excellent example of how international partnerships can unlock new opportunities for innovation and investment. The Office for Investment is committed to help ambitious companies connect with the UK's unrivalled innovation ecosystem and build long-term success from a UK base.”

Imperial’s School of Convergence Science is a mission-led initiative within Imperial’s Science for Humanity strategy. Its work unfolds across four interconnected themes: Health and Technology; Human and Artificial Intelligence; Space, Security and Telecoms; and Sustainability. Imperial collaborates globally with researchers, industry, governments, and funders to translate science into action for the world’s toughest challenges.