SKKU Achieves Largest Number of Projects and Funding in Seoul RISE Program

• -Secures KRW 26.5 billion over 5 years, marking a dominant achievement in Seoul’s RISE initiative
• -Poised to become a regional innovation hub in connection with Seoul’s strategic industries including AI, fintech, and creative industries

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) has been selected for six projects under Seoul Metropolitan Government’s RISE (Regional Innovation-led University Support System) program, securing a total of 26.5 billion KRW in funding over the next five years. Amid fierce competition among leading universities in Seoul, SKKU’s proven excellence and strong track record in industry-academia cooperation were recognized, reaffirming its status as a national leader in university-industry collaboration.

In line with the RISE program’s vision of “solving social issues and creating future value in partnership with Seoul,” SKKU has set ambitious goals of contributing to Seoul’s rise as a global top 5 city and achieving Global Top 50 university status. To this end, the university will focus on six key initiatives over the next five years: △Leading global university-industry cooperation △Enhancing global competencies of future talent △Revitalizing the industry-academia ecosystem △Building an AI cluster △Fostering talent in the creative industries △Solving local community challenges

SKKU’s strategy closely aligns with Seoul’s five major strategic industries: AI, bio, fintech, robotics, and creative industries. The university has been highly praised for presenting a model that not only secures future growth engines but also contributes to regional job creation. Each project includes a comprehensive plan for demand-driven technology validation, professional workforce training, and industry-academia-research collaboration. Going beyond academic research, SKKU aims to establish an action-oriented platform to invigorate the local industrial ecosystem and address societal challenges. Looking ahead, SKKU will further strengthen ties with industry and expand engagement with local communities to solidify its role as a key innovation hub in Seoul’s industry-academia collaboration ecosystem.

Commenting on this achievement, Professor Jae Boong Choi, Director of SKKU’s RISE Program, stated: “Being selected for the RISE initiative has opened a new chapter for advancing strategic and sustainable industry-academia cooperation. We aim to become a leading university that grows alongside Seoul, drives innovation through industry partnerships, and sets a model for future collaboration.”