Sogang University (President Jonghyuk Shim) has been selected for two projects under Seoul’s newly launched Regional Innovation System & Education (Seoul RISE) initiative for 2026. The university will carry out the “AI-Related Department Support” project and the “Seoul-type BRIDGE (Creative Asset Commercialization)” project. With total annual funding of KRW 1.15 billion, Sogang will receive KRW 4.6 billion over the next four years to accelerate AI talent development and strengthen its technology commercialization system.
The selection reflects external recognition of Sogang’s efforts to build an innovation framework that integrates AI into education and research, as well as an intellectual property (IP)-centered industry–academia collaboration model. In particular, Sogang’s execution structure and support mechanisms—designed to ensure that educational and research outcomes translate into real-world industrial impact—were highlighted as a core strength.
Building an AI-Embedded Education and Research Ecosystem
Through the “AI-Related Department Support” project, Sogang plans to establish an institution-wide innovation system that integrates AI across education and research, supported by an open AI infrastructure. Rather than focusing only on expanding AI course offerings, the university will embed AI capabilities throughout majors and interdisciplinary fields. Based on an estimated demand of approximately 2,300 learners for AI education, Sogang will operate a staged curriculum designed to develop practical competencies and produce work-ready talent in a structured manner.
Sogang will also collaborate with the University of Toronto to continuously enhance its curricula and co-develop joint educational programs, expanding students’ global learning opportunities. Beyond simply using AI, the university aims to enable all students to train AI within their own academic disciplines and apply it to addressing societal challenges. In parallel, Sogang will gradually advance the development of a “Sogang–Seoul AI Foundation Model” tailored to Seoul’s strategic industries and cultural context.
In addition, the university will build personalized AI+X coursework and expand AI projects centered on undergraduate researchers, strengthening student-led research and hands-on training. Sogang will increase practice-oriented project courses in partnership with regional industry organizations and host global hackathons with overseas universities to cultivate AI talent equipped for both industry demands and international collaboration.
“Seoul-type BRIDGE”: A Nonstop Pipeline from Discovery to Commercialization
Under the “Seoul-type BRIDGE (Creative Asset Commercialization)” project, Sogang will establish a nonstop, end-to-end support system that connects technology (and ideas) discovery to full commercialization. The university aims to promote practical commercialization of research outcomes and upgrade its IP-based industry–academia–research collaboration framework by expanding IP creation and delivering stronger technology transfer results that drive industrial value growth.
To achieve these goals, Sogang will build a demand-tailored, ultra-wide-area technology convergence portfolio and operate a Hybrid Company Builder system that provides integrated support from technology discovery through enterprise growth stages. The university will also pursue on-demand applied technology development to improve technology readiness and expand technology demonstrations centered on Seoul’s five strategic sectors—identifying market needs and generating mid- to large-scale technology transfer outcomes.
To strengthen collaboration among companies and public research institutes across regions, Sogang will establish an Integrated Support Center for strategic industries linking industry, academia, and research. The university will connect a consortium of leading public research institutes (CORE Alliance) with Seoul’s industry support organizations. Through the “Seoul–Tech Bridge Integrated Support Center,” Sogang will coordinate collaboration processes comprehensively, while launching the “Sogang Corporate Innovation Advisory Group” to match corporate demand with specialized technology experts.
To accelerate commercialization growth and investment, Sogang will launch an “AI-Specialized IPO Fast-Track” program targeting organizations within the Seoul AI Hub and Seoul’s CORE 100 companies. By leveraging open-innovation-based asset utilization, the university plans to expand Seoul’s open innovation ecosystem and further refine strategic industry-linked models to enhance the project’s overall effectiveness.
Leadership Comment and Outlook
Seongryul Jeon, Head of Sogang University’s RISE Project Team and Vice President for Academic Affairs, stated that the new projects will further advance AI-integrated education and research innovation while significantly strengthening the university’s end-to-end technology commercialization system. He added that Sogang will work closely with Seoul’s strategic industries to deliver tangible and visible results.
Over the next four years, Sogang will focus on (1) upgrading an AI-based convergence talent development system, (2) expanding education aligned with strategic industries, and (3) generating measurable IP-centered commercialization outcomes. The university also plans to maximize synergy by linking these initiatives with existing Seoul RISE projects, further solidifying Seoul’s regional innovation model.
