Naver Cloud is intensifying its efforts in defense artificial intelligence (AI), revealing a collaboration with Korea University to jointly work on defense initiatives valued at approximately 20 billion won ($13.5 million) and create AI technologies for the military's upcoming command-and-control systems.
The firm announced that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the C5ISRT Convergence Research Center at Korea University after finalizing an agreement on aimed at enhancing collaboration between industry and academia in defense C5ISRT, encompassing command, control, communication, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting.
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Naver Cloud stated that the collaboration merges its AI and cloud computing strengths with the research center's almost 40 years of experience in managing defense technology.
The research center is directed by Kang Seok-joong, a professor at the Graduate School of Management of Technology at Korea University and an experienced researcher in defense acquisition, command-and-control systems, and national defense policies.
Both parties announced they will collaboratively engage in the Joint Chiefs of Staff Industry-Academia-Military Cooperation Center, one of five defense AI transformation centers that the Ministry of National Defense intends to establish. They mentioned that they will perform collaborative research on hyperscale AI-driven command-and-control technologies and initiate advanced research and development for the Korea Joint Command and Control System initiative planned for 2027.
The partnership will include research on a shared defense framework and joint educational initiatives to develop experts for the defense sector.
Naver Cloud's CEO Kim Yu-won stated that strong collaboration between the military, academia, and industry is crucial for the progress of defense technology.
He stated that the collaboration will enhance the company's involvement in important defense initiatives and aid in bolstering Korea's competitiveness in defense AI. Kang stated that upcoming battlefields are quickly transforming into AI- and data-centric C5ISRT systems.
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He stated that the partnership will establish a premier model integrating industry and academia, covering research, demonstration, commercialization, and workforce development for the defense AI ecosystem in Korea.
Earlier, Naver Cloud and HanmiGlobal, a construction project management company, entered into a strategic partnership agreement to collaboratively undertake large-scale data center projects in Saudi Arabia and additional international markets.
According to the agreement, Naver Cloud will take charge of infrastructure planning and service model design, utilizing its comprehensive capabilities that include data center development, cloud services, and artificial intelligence. HanmiGlobal will oversee design and construction consulting, manage project scheduling and costs, and facilitate local licensing and business operations in Saudi Arabia.
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Naver Cloud is establishing its presence in Saudi Arabia through Naver Innovation, a collaboration with the Saudi National Housing Company, concentrating on digital twin construction and map-based super-app innovation. The updated data center agreement expands that presence into infrastructure and aims to establish the company as a vital ally in Saudi Arabia's ongoing digital transformation. HanmiGlobal began its operations in the Middle East in 2007 and has since successfully finished over 50 projects in the area.