Kyungpook National University - Three Core Convergence Research Institutes
KNU’s Research-Oriented Transformation
In 2025 Kyungpook National University established the Three Core Convergence Research Institutes, namely, the Institute of Basic Science Convergence, the Institute of Advanced Technology Convergence, and the Institute of Bio Convergence, as key organisations for KNU’s research-oriented transformation. With the recent appointment of the respective institute directors, KNU plans to accelerate promotion of its Glocal University 30 Project. Each director will serve as a ‘control tower’ for achieving the goals of each research institute, namely: establishing a research platform through the formation of a research unit, creating an immersive environment for research, transforming KNU into a research-oriented university, growing local industries, and regional innovation.
The Institute for Basic Science Convergence
The Institute for Basic Science Convergence will focus on researching the three major anthropological challenges of climate change, environmental pollution, and low birth rate and aging. Professor Jeong Seong-hwa, the new Director of the Institute, is leading research on climate change and the prevention of environmental pollution. His research is cited more than 10 times daily on average, he has been named a "Highly Ranked Scholar" for three consecutive years by ScholarGPS, a global academic data analysis platform, and he was selected as a Highly Cited Researcher (HCR) by the global information analysis company Clarivate for five consecutive years from 2018 to 2022. Moreover, he was elected as a full member of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology in 2022. He is a world-class scholar recognised for his academic achievements both at home and abroad, having received the Ungbi Medal of the Order of Science and Technology Merit in 2023.
The Institute for Advanced Technology Convergence
The Institute for Advanced Technology Convergence will focus on core technologies for emerging regional industries, such as robotics, mobility, semiconductors, and ABB (AI, Big Data, and Blockchain). The director, Professor Han Dong-seok, is an outstanding scholar known as a leading researcher in his fields of expertise, including his career as head of the ITTP Digital TV/Broadcasting Business Group. Professor Han has previously served as head of the ICT and Automotive Convergence Research Center at Kyungpook National University, a key research institute of the Korea Research Foundation, carrying out not only the national objectives of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, but also the corporate objectives of Samsung Display through various research activities. Moreover, he has received many accolades in his career, such as the Daegu Mayor’s Commendation for the Development of Autonomous Driving Technology in 2024.
The Institute for Bio Convergence will focus on the field of biohealth based on clinical results, including pharmaceutical development, medical devices, and healthcare innovation, etc.). The director, Professor Kim-Sang-hyun, was the first Korean national to serve as Project Officer for the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He has also served as head of the PM of the New Drug Development Center at the National Research Foundation of Korea, Chairman of the Korean-Japanese Pharmacological Society and the Asia-Pacific Federation of Pharmacologists (APFP), as well as Chairman of the Planning Committee for the 4th Basic Plan for Biotechnology Promotion. In 2022, he received the Minister’s Commendation from the Ministry of Science and ICT as a meritorious contributor to bio-development. He is an outstanding scholar with outstanding achievements and authority in pharmacology who is consistently recognised as a top 2% researcher worldwide.
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Together, these Three Core Convergence Research Institutes are expected to play key and central roles in the promotion of KNU’s Glocal University 30 Project, including the establishment of a convergence research system through the formation of a multidisciplinary research unit and the discovery of challenging new research topics, the enhancement of university research, the growth and innovation of local industries through regional connections, and the establishment of a platform for academic cooperation with government-funded research institutes. In addition, the directors will be able to promote the spread of superior research platforms within Kyungpook National University by organizing and operating research units based on their respective outstanding research capabilities.
Additionally, the Three Core Convergence Research Institutes plan to create innovative and practical value through revenue from technology derived from their research findings and actual start-up achievements. They will lead research-focused educational innovation by establishing a convergence research micro-degree curriculum that directly reflects research content in the coursework. Through these initiatives, the institutes will enhance global research collaboration and nurture excellent research talent, thereby helping KNU to transform into a key research institution with world-class competitiveness to achieve the goals set out in the Glocal University 30 Project.