- Securing a National Strategic Resource That Determines AI Competitiveness for Both the Nation and Businesses
- Expected to Play a Critical Role in Attaining Leadership in Advanced AI Technologies
The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Yoo Sang-im, hereinafter referred to as "MSIT") announced the Action Plan for the Establishment of the National AI Computing Center (including the Establishment of an SPC) at the Ministerial Meeting on National Affairs and Ministerial Meeting on Economic Affairs held on January 22. Based on this plan, the government and the private sector will collaborate closely to systematically establish the National AI Computing Center, a key infrastructure in the era of AI transformation.
High-performance AI computing centers equipped with advanced semiconductor technology have emerged as a pivotal factor in determining the AI competitiveness of both nations and enterprises. These centers are essential for training AI models and enhancing their performance, while also supporting the research and development of more complex and sophisticated AI computation methods (algorithms). Additionally, they serve as the foundation for AI-driven services across industries, cloud computing for internet-based resource sharing, and platform-based data ecosystems.
Since June last year, MSIT, together with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Financial Services Commission, has been discussing the urgent need to secure high-performance AI computing resources, which act as the driving force behind the AI transformation era. Based on these discussions, in August last year, the Ministerial Meeting on Economic Affairs formulated the Plan for Enhancing AI Computing Infrastructure, which outlined the policy direction for the National AI Computing Center. Subsequently, in September, the National AI Committee announced the plan to establish the National AI Computing Center and, to ensure systematic implementation, launched the Special Committee on AI Computing Infrastructure under its umbrella.
Through the Action Plan for the Establishment of the National AI Computing Center (including the Establishment of an SPC) announced today, the government has elaborated on the project’s execution strategies and policy support measures.
To establish and operate the National AI Computing Center, a Special Purpose Corporation (SPC) will be jointly funded by both the public and private sectors. In addition to this initial investment, any additional required funds will be provided through policy-based financial instruments, such as loan programs.
Through this initiative, the government will significantly expand the availability of advanced graphics processing units (GPUs), which are essential for AI research and development, providing them to industries, academia, and research institutions. Furthermore, to stimulate early demand for domestically produced AI semiconductors, the government plans to incorporate domestically developed neural processing units (NPUs) and processing-in-memory (PIM) devices. In addition, efforts will be made to promote the development and application of AI services powered by domestic AI semiconductors, thereby strengthening the domestic AI semiconductor industry. The government also aims to actively support global companies’ participation and collaboration to enhance the international competitiveness of Korea’s AI computing ecosystem and to foster technology commercialization by linking public R&D outcomes with industrial applications.
The government has also devised a range of policy support measures for the National AI Computing Center. These include expediting the power system impact assessment required for the center’s operation and promoting the designation of AI technology as a national strategic technology under the Act on Restriction on Special Cases Concerning Taxation to encourage private sector investment. Additionally, AI computing-intensive projects, such as AI computing support initiatives, AI research and development & demonstration projects, and AI transformation initiatives across various sectors, will be encouraged to utilize the National AI Computing Center as a priority.
Moving forward, the National AI Computing Center is expected to provide Korea’s research and industrial sectors with a world-class AI research and development environment. It is also anticipated to serve as a catalyst for innovation and growth in the domestic AI computing ecosystem, encompassing AI semiconductors, cloud computing, and AI-driven services.
The call for project proposals is open to domestic and international cloud service providers, data center operators, telecommunications companies, and AI-related enterprises (including consortiums) from Thursday, January 23, to Friday, May 30. Additionally, to provide further details, an information session will be held on Friday, February 7, and the request for proposals (RFP) guidelines will be provided exclusively to companies and institutions that submit a Letter of Intent to Participate by 5:00 PM on Friday, February 28.
*(Date/Location of the Information Session): Friday, February 7, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM / International Conference Room, Bank Hall, Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Further details regarding the project call will be posted on the websites of MSIT and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA).
MSIT emphasized, " Just as broadband networks served as the foundation for Korea’s emergence as an ICT powerhouse, AI computing infrastructure will be a core national asset that supports innovation and growth in the AI transformation era." The ministry further stated, "We will expedite the establishment of the National AI Computing Center to ensure that businesses and researchers can fully utilize world-class AI computing infrastructure, nurturing the center as a key hub for the growth of the AI computing ecosystem, encompassing AI semiconductors, cloud computing, and AI services.”
For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Please refer to the attached PDF.