North Gyeongsang Province’s Investment in Artificial Intelligence Transformation
North Gyeongsang Province is set to make a significant investment of 1.7 trillion won to promote artificial intelligence (AI) transformation (AX) within the public sector and various industrial sites. This initiative aligns with the Lee Jae Myung government’s ambition to develop Sovereign AI models, aiming to establish the region as one of the world’s top three AI powerhouses.
Strategic Framework
The province has laid out the “Gyeongbuk-do Sovereign AI Basic Plan”, highlighting four key strategies:
- AI governance operation
- Creation of an AI innovation foundation
- Promotion of AX
- Contribution to the global AI societal framework
AI Governance and Consultation
To effectively implement AI governance, North Gyeongsang Province will establish a dedicated AI division within the Gyeongbuk Province Fourth Industrial Revolution Executive Committee. This division will operate with an industry-academic consultative body to reflect immediate AX demands into policy.
Foundation for AI Innovation
The plan for cultivating AI innovation will proceed on two tracks:
- The establishment of a large-scale data center for each industry, capable of handling extensive computations through public-private partnerships.
- A small data center focused on key industries like steel, aimed at enhancing computational capabilities.
Additionally, the province aims to bolster the capabilities of local science and engineering students and enhance the human resources training system, including the establishment of an AI convergence graduate school.
Promoting AI Transformation
North Gyeongsang Province plans to utilize its robust manufacturing base to drastically enhance productivity, quality, and safety across ten areas of provincial administration, which include:
- Manufacturing
- Agriculture
- Marine fisheries
- Bio
- Energy
- Disaster safety
- Welfare
- Small business support
- Public administration
In the manufacturing sector, the province will enhance digital twin and physical AI capabilities, progressing towards autonomous manufacturing processes. In agriculture, AI and robotics will address structural issues exacerbated by climate change and an aging workforce.
Innovations in the Bio Industry
To advance the bio industry, North Gyeongsang Province plans to establish a new drug design platform that will facilitate candidate discovery and commercialization, enhancing development efficiency through automated experiments in AI-driven laboratories.
Support for Small Business Owners
The province aims to ensure self-sustainability for small businesses by leveraging AI data for precise management and commercial analysis, facilitating growth in local economies.
AI in Public Administration
Incorporating AI into public administration will enable data-driven policy-making, enhancing the intelligence of local governance systems and aligning with the government’s common AI base.
Global AI Contribution
North Gyeongsang Province also seeks to contribute to the global AI community by developing AI agent services that resonate with the public. Plans include hosting the Asia-Pacific AI Center to promote cooperative governance, joint AI research, and human resource exchanges among member countries.
Funding and Resource Mobilization
To support these initiatives, North Gyeongsang Province will actively pursue state funding and government public offering projects, focusing on securing future growth engines. An AI National Security Task Force (TF) will be established to facilitate budgeting and cooperation among provincial ministries, cities, counties, and related organizations.
Regional Strengths
The province boasts advantageous location and industrial strengths, including a high degree of self-sufficiency in power and abundant field data from the manufacturing sector. With excellent research personnel and infrastructure, including institutions like POSTECH, KIRO, and RIST, North Gyeongsang Province is well-equipped to foster the AI industry.
In conclusion, as stated by the deputy governor of the economy, “Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a growth engine… North Gyeongsang Province is dedicated to focusing its resources on expanding regional growth engines and establishing Gyeongbuk as a leading hub for AI innovation in Korea.
