In an effort to expand international cooperation, a Skoltech delegation conducted a visit to top universities and large companies in South Korea on March 29-31, 2017.
The Skoltech delegation included Alexander Safonov, Vice President for Academic Development; Prof. Grigory Kabatiansky, Advisor to the President for Science; Prof. Igor Krichever, Director of the Skoltech Center for Advanced Studies; and Tatyana Zakharova, Vice President for Finance and Operations.
From left to right – Prof. Hayong Shin, Associate Vice President for Admissions, KAIST, Alexander Safonov, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Skoltech, Prof. Joungho Kim, Associate Vice President for Research, KAIST, Tatyana Zakharova, Vice President for Finance and Operations, Skoltech, Prof. Igor Krichever, Director of the Skoltech Center for Advanced Studies, Prof. Grigory Kabatiansky, Advisor to the President for Science, Skoltech
The group visited the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). Both of these universities share a great deal in common with Skoltech in terms of their missions, organizational models and operations. These similarities include such indicators as amount of funding per faculty member, the faculty-to-student ratio and the ratio of international students. To attain success and international recognition, all three of these institutes relied on the attraction of top-notch faculty, governmental support, strong industry connections, a focus on cutting-edge research and advanced educational practices.
“For Skoltech, as a young university, it is important to develop ties and learn from its role model universities, as well as to apply best practices in its further development. South Korean universities that hold leading positions in international rankings, especially among young universities, are of high partnership priority,” said Alexander Safonov.
At KAIST, the Skoltech team held in-depth discussions with Prof. Joungho Kim, Associate Vice President for Research, Prof. Hayong Shin, Associate Vice President for Admissions and Prof. Sang Yup Lee, Dean of KAIST Institutes. Among the issues discussed was the governance of KAIST’s research institutes, which are interdisciplinary units similar to Skoltech’s Centers for Research, Education and Innovation. The participants explored the possibilities of developing partnerships, including joint initiatives. Participants proposed initiating a faculty and student exchange program and pursuing joint research projects in the field of artificial intelligence and data science at large.
From left to right – Prof. Grigory Kabatiansky, Advisor to the President for Science, Skoltech, Alexander Safonov, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Skoltech, Tatyana Zakharova, Vice President for Finance and Operations, Skoltech, Prof. Igor Krichever, Director of the Skoltech Center for Advanced Studies, Skoltech
The Skoltech delegation also had the opportunity to visit the Dr. M Mobile Healthcare Showroom, a top notch example of interdisciplinary research applied to medicine. The innovative system implements a wealth of new technologies, including the Internet of Things, which at present is being actively developed at Skoltech.
The Skoltech delegation’s visit to POSTECH was hosted by Prof. Moohyun Cho, Provost and Executive Vice President, along with the International Relations team, represented by Director Hyoeun Park and Coordinator Kiljong Yoo. The agenda included industrial relations, rankings advancement strategies and other areas of institutional development. The Skoltech delegation also visited the world famous synchrotron light source at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory.
During the trip, the Skoltech delegates also toured the sites of leading South Korean companies such as InssTek and the R&D Division of Hyundai Motor Group.
The negotiations of the parties
* Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) was established in February 1971 as the first Korean research university with a mission to produce well-trained scientists and engineers with advanced degrees. It is ranked #46 in QS World University Ranking and #3 in QS Top 50 Under 50 2016-2017.
Pohang University of Science and Technology is a private university established in 1986 by POSCO Сompany, planned as the first research-oriented university model in Korea with centralized collaboration between academia, research institute and industry. It is ranked #83 in QS World University Ranking and #5 in QS Top 50 Under 50 2016-2017.
InssTek is a leading metal 3D printing company in the Additive Manufacturing market.
InssTek was established in 2001 to develop and commercialize metal 3D printing technology which is applied in various areas: mold production and modification, fabrication of complex metal parts and high-strength metal parts for high-tech machinery, aerospace, shipbuilding, car-making, microelectronics, and healthcare. Skoltech has purchased 3D printer MX-1000, unique for Russia, using Direct Metal Transferring technology of printing.
Technical Fellow of InssTek Joung-Soo Kim will be participating in MIT & Skoltech Conference “Shaping the Future: Big Data, Biomedicine and Frontier Technologies” (session “Advanced Manufacturing and Materials”)
Hyundai Motor Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Seoul. It is the largest vehicle manufacturer in South Korea and, as of 2015, the world’s fourth largest vehicle manufacturer.
