Kyungpook National University joins hands with Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province to build regional talent pipeline

Kyungpook National University has teamed up with Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province to build a wide-area cooperation framework aimed at developing talent for the region's strategic industries and securing future growth drivers.

The university signed a mutual cooperation agreement with the two local governments Tuesday at its main building in Daegu. President Heo Young-woo, Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho and North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo attended the signing ceremony.

Under the agreement, the three institutions agreed to jointly operate a "wide-area shared university" and establish a "hub national university package-based talent development system" — both grounded in openness and collaboration — to systematically cultivate talent in strategic industry sectors.

Key areas of cooperation include jointly developing brand colleges to serve as growth engines for the Daegu-North Gyeongsang region, establishing an AI education and research hub, operating the wide-area shared university, promoting education and research in advanced and strategic industries, and nurturing core talent to drive regional innovation and industrial growth.

The institutions will concentrate their education and research capabilities on the region's strategic industries, including semiconductors, robotics, future mobility, secondary batteries and biotech.

They also plan to foster an innovation ecosystem across Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province by expanding joint curriculum operations, research collaboration and resource sharing among universities, as well as technology commercialization and startup support in partnership with companies and research institutions.

The three institutions had already held a joint task force launch meeting Thursday to share the direction of the initiative and each party's role, and discussed plans for the stable operation of the wide-area cooperation framework going forward.

"The most critical factor in attracting advanced industry investment is securing talented people," Governor Lee said. "We will work together with regional universities to supply the talent companies need in a timely manner, and to help Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province grow into the center of South Korea's future industries."

Mayor Choo said he hopes the agreement will lead to Kyungpook National University's selection as a "package support university" and ultimately serve as a new success model for regional innovation across the country.

President Heo said he expects the MOU to further solidify the partnership between Kyungpook National University and the Daegu-North Gyeongsang region, and to help the area emerge as a leading hub for AI and advanced industry innovation in South Korea.