Dong-A University Selected as AI-Centered University, to Receive KRW 25.2 Billion Over Eight Years

[Financial News] Dong-A University has been selected as an AI-Centered University.
Busan Metropolitan City Government announced on the 30th that Dong-A University had been finally selected for the 2026 AI-Centered University selection program promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The AI-Centered University program is a national competition-based initiative designed to transform university education systems around AI, train AI specialists and AI convergence talent for various industries, and promote AI transformation (AX) in regional industries.
Together with Dong-A University, the city will invest KRW 25.2 billion, including KRW 21.2 billion in national funding, over eight years from 2026 through 2033 to establish a demonstration-oriented AI-Centered University that will lead the physical AI transformation of specialized industries in the Southeast Region of Korea.
Dong-A University was selected based on its educational foundation and industry-academia collaboration achievements accumulated through the existing Software-Centered University program.
Building on this selection, the university will completely reorganize its existing software-centered education system around AI and establish a training system for AI specialists and convergence talent, linking major-specific and interdisciplinary education with graduate studies.
It will also expand hands-on demonstration education in physical AI transformation linked to Busan and specialized industries in the Southeast Region of Korea. Through industry-academia collaboration, it will connect the entire pathway from talent development to employment, entrepreneurship, and settlement in the region.
Busan Metropolitan City Government plans to use this selection as an opportunity to upgrade the region’s AI and software education foundation, built through the Software-Centered University program, around AI and AI transformation (AI·AX). It also plans to strengthen cooperation between universities and companies to support the AI transformation of the region’s key industries and the settlement of outstanding talent in the region.
[email protected] Kwon Byeong-seok Reporter