Samsung Electronics continues its industry-academia collaboration with Seoul National University (SNU) by establishing a joint artificial intelligence (AI) research center at SNU’s Global Education Center for Engineers in Seoul. This initiative seeks to enhance secure technological and product competitiveness in the AI field and cultivate talent.

Samsung Electronics and SNU signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on June 17. The signing ceremony was attended by Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics and Head of Samsung Research; Won-Joon Choi, Head of Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics; Young-oh Kim, Dean of SNU College of Engineering; and Kang U, professor of the Interdisciplinary Program in Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) at the SNU College of Engineering.

SNU has established and operated the IPAI at the College of Engineering for graduate students since the fall semester of 2020, with the aim of training AI experts. Through this agreement, Samsung Electronics’ DX Division and SNU’s IPAI will engage in joint industry-academia research projects focused on cutting-edge AI technologies for the next three years within the newly established joint AI research center. The research projects consist of developing sophisticated technologies for on-device and multimodal AI.

Earlier this year, Samsung Electronics integrated various AI technologies, such as Circle to Search, real-time interpretation, and Photo Assist, into the newly launched Galaxy S24, and is also expanding AI-driven product lines, including BESPOKE AI and AI TV.

Samsung anticipates that the industry-academia collaboration with SNU will bolster its core AI technologies and strengthen its technological edge in the rapidly evolving AI sector. The partnership also includes plans to attract and develop top talent, with recruitment activities aimed at master’s and doctoral researchers participating in these projects.

“The partnership for a joint AI research center with SNU will solidify Samsung’s AI technology and product capabilities, as well as contribute to attracting talent for future AI research,” stated Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun of Samsung Electronics.

Meanwhile, Young-oh Kim of SNU’s College of Engineering said, “SNU and Samsung Electronics will closely work together to fulfill the agreement’s objectives, and I hope the partners can foster a tight-knit cooperation not only in AI but across several disciplines.”