The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) is launching a full-scale research strategy centered on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation (DX) following the inauguration of its new president. Research and management directions aimed at contributing to national intelligence and sustainable growth have also been presented.

ETRI held an inauguration ceremony for President Park Se-woong, who took office as the 11th president, at the main auditorium of its headquarters in Daejeon on the 20th.

Director Park Se-woong is an expert with experience in telecommunications networks, research in the fields of AI and ICT, and industry-academia-research collaboration.

In his inaugural address, President Park presented "realizing a human-centered society through AI and DX innovation" as ETRI's vision. Regarding the research direction, a plan was announced focusing on key tasks for realizing national intelligence.

Key strategies include strengthening national mission-based research and development, developing AI-native 6G and satellite communication technologies, focusing on areas such as secure AGI, sovereign AI, and on-device AI, expanding research on spatial media and physical AI, and expanding the application of AI and DX centered on public and industrial sites.

Along with this, the plan is to strengthen its role as a full-cycle R&D platform to provide a foundation for national innovation.

In terms of management, it emphasized collaboration between organizations and an open research environment.

Director Park presented the following as key initiatives: operating research projects with reduced boundaries between departments, creating a challenging research environment, strengthening intellectual property (IP)-centered management, and expanding cooperation among universities, government-funded research institutes, and industry.

It also includes plans to expand ties with the region by strengthening the cooperation system based on regional research headquarters.

Director Park graduated from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Seoul National University and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. After working at AT&T Bell Labs, he served as a professor at Seoul National University, where he has been conducting research and fostering talent in the ICT field.

It is known that he has accumulated research experience in the fields of telecommunications and AI through his activities in academia and industry, as well as his work with international academic organizations and research associations.

ETRI announced that, with the inauguration of the new president, it plans to strengthen its role as a national strategic research institution, focusing on AI and digital transformation technologies.