KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 5th of September that its semiconductor research and education achievements were highlighted on August 18 in Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering, a sister journal of the world-renowned scientific journal Nature.
Title: Semiconductor-related research and education at KAIST DOI: 10.1038/s44287-025-00204-3
This special "Focus" article provides a detailed look at KAIST's leadership in next-generation semiconductor research, talent development, and global industry-academia collaboration, presenting a future blueprint for Korea's semiconductor industry. Editor Silvia Conti personally conducted the interviews, with KAIST professors including Kyung Min Kim from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Young Gyu Yoon, Shinhyun Choi, Sung-Yool Choi, and Seunghyub Yoo from the School of Electrical Engineering, participating.
KAIST operates educational programs such as the School of Electrical Engineering, the Department of Semiconductor Systems Engineering, and the Graduate School of Semiconductor Engineering. It is leading next-generation semiconductor research in areas like neuromorphic computing, in-memory computing, and 2D new material-based devices. Building on this foundation, researchers are developing new architectures and devices that transcend the limitations of existing silicon, driving innovation in various application fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and medicine.
Notably, research on implementing biological functions like synapses and neurons into hardware platforms using new types of memory such as RRAM and PRAM is gaining international attention. This work opens up possibilities for applications in robots, edge computing, and on-sensor AI systems.
Furthermore, KAIST has operated EPSS (Samsung Advanced Human Resources Training Program) and KEPSI (SK Hynix Semiconductor Advanced Human Resources Training Program) based on long-standing partnerships with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Graduate students in these programs receive full scholarships and are guaranteed employment after graduation. The Department of Semiconductor Systems Engineering, newly established in 2022, selects 100 undergraduate students each year to provide systematic education. Additionally, the KAIST–Samsung Electronics Industry-Academia Cooperation Center, which involves more than 70 labs annually, serves as a long-term hub for joint industry-academia research, contributing to solving critical issues within the industry.
The article emphasizes KAIST's growth beyond a simple research institution into an international research hub. KAIST is enhancing diversity and inclusivity by expanding the hiring of female faculty and establishing a Global Talent Visa Center to support foreign professors and students, attracting outstanding talent from around the world. As a core university within the Daedeok Research Complex (Daedeok Innopolis), it serves as the heart of "Korea's Silicon Valley."
KAIST researchers predict that the future of semiconductor technology is not in simple device miniaturization but in a convergent approach involving neuromorphic technology, 3D packaging technology, and AI applications. This article shows that KAIST's strategic research direction and leadership are gaining attention from both the global academic and industrial communities.
Professor Kyung Min Kim stated, "I am very pleased that KAIST's next-generation semiconductor research and talent development strategy has been widely publicized to domestic and international academia and industry through this article, and we will continue to contribute to the development of future semiconductor technology with innovative convergence research."
KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee remarked, "Being highlighted for our semiconductor research and education achievements in a world-renowned science journal is a testament to the dedication and pioneering spirit of our university members. I am delighted that KAIST's growth as a global research hub is gaining recognition, and we will continue to expand industry-academia collaboration to lead next-generation semiconductor innovation and play a key role in helping Korea become a future semiconductor powerhouse."