IFEZ Journal

Establishing an AI and Metaverse Education Center to 

Become a Digital Innovation City

The construction of an artificial intelligence (AI) and metaverse education center will be promoted in Songdo International City. 

IFEZ plans to use this education center to train international-level professionals and become a digital innovation city. 

AI Expert Training Institution to Lead the 4th Industry

Discussions are beginning to build Korea’s first public-private cooperation artificial intelligence (AI) and metaverse education center. The education center’s construction will be promoted under the Agreement for Revitalization of Public Contribution and Development signed between NSIC, responsible for the Songdo International Business District development project, and Incheon City in July 2019. This project aims to train international-level professionals who will lead the 4th industry and to foster Songdo as a primary base.

Last May, IFEZ signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NSIC and NAVER Cloud to build AI and metaverse education, experience, and exhibition facilities. The core of this MOU includes devising AI education programs to optimize startups, strengthening competitiveness in IFEZ, and establishing educational spaces and experience/exhibition spaces to cooperate in nurturing key talents to lead the 4th Industrial Revolution. Afterward, the two parties began detailed discussions regarding the appropriate location, facility size, and detailed operation plan within the Songdo International Business Complex. IFEZ plans to form a task force composed of officials from relevant departments and NSIC, the development-project operator, in order to establish overall operational issues, including architectural plans, such as urban landscape, building permits, urban planning, and green space (parks), as well as the content and program development for the education center.

The First Step towards a Digital Innovation City

In August, IFEZ surveyed the promotion of AI education operation projects among startups in the jurisdiction before constructing the education center. The survey results, which asked for opinions from corporate sites regarding the training of corporate support personnel, will be used to make preliminary preparations for the training center more smoothly and to establish more productive operation plans. For example, in this survey, startups raised problems recruiting IT professionals, lacking developers and AI experts, and needing AI consulting to support businesses.

To relieve these difficulties, IFEZ plans to secure the relevant budget next year to train AI experts that companies desire by providing training on cloud construction, big data analysis, and AI project practice. IFEZ will increase businesses’ AI technology capabilities and continuously support them through this practical, customized training. In addition, professional consulting and joint projects to develop AI services will be promoted to meet startups’ needs.

IFEZ Commissioner Kim Jin-yong said, “The AI and metaverse education center will be a springboard for Songdo International City to become a hub of AI and IT.” He added, “By establishing the education center, we will train AI experts needed by companies residing in Songdo and will discover various content and programs to meet citizens’ expectations.”

Songdo International City AI·Metaverse Education Center Construction Project

Goal  Training AI experts and fostering key bases

Developers IFEZ and New Songdo International City Development, LLC (NSIC)

Location Neighborhood Park at G5-2 Block (32-5 Songdo-dong)

Budget KRW 16billion