In an effort to attract foreign investment and other initiatives, Governor Park Soo-hyun, currently on a visit to Europe, visited the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ‘AI Hub for Sustainable Development’ located in Rome, Italy, on the 27th (local time).
This visit was arranged to build a cooperative network with the UNDP AI Hub and to explore ways to host the UN AI Hub in Chungnam, which is considered one of the key tasks of the 9th popular-elected administration.
Accompanying the Governor from the provincial side were Provincial Council Chairman Cho Chul-ki and Education Committee Chairwoman Kim Eun-na. Representing the UNDP AI Hub were Kizom Ngodup Massali, Head of Office; Maria Giulia Vitaliano, Head of Strategic Partnerships; and some 20 high-ranking officials from the Italian central government, business leaders, and university representatives—including Federico Eichberg, Chief Cabinet of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy; Sergio Strochi, Head of Directorate 4 for Growth and Export Promotion and Counselor at the Embassy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; and Fabio Massimo Ballerini, Prime Minister’s Office Advisor for the Mattei Plan for Africa—who notably filled the table despite the vacation season.
Governor Park listened to explanations regarding the background of the UNDP AI Hub's establishment, its operating system, major projects, and cooperation with central and local governments and private enterprises worldwide, while discussing key cooperation measures with the province.
Governor Park introduced, "The AI great transformation is a pledge put forward by all 16 regional local governments of South Korea in recent elections, but they are all heavily concentrated solely on industry." He added, "However, Chungnam Province put forward a pledge focusing uniquely on the balance between humans and AI, based on the thought that if we do not pay attention to the impact on people, the gap between industry and people in the digital era will widen."
He then proposed four areas of cooperation to the UNDP AI Hub: △ sharing experience in AI public goods and governance; △ cooperation on industrial and agricultural field-based AI testing and verification; △ nurturing AI talent for future generations and exchanging youth startups; and △ cooperation on combining carbon neutrality and green tech with AI.
Governor Park also explained the three major balances of the AI great transformation—△ the balance between industry and humans, △ the balance between cutting-edge industries and traditional industries, and △ the balance between large corporations and small-to-medium enterprises—emphasizing, "Among South Korea's local governments, Chungnam is the only one whose direction aligns with that of the UNDP AI Hub."
Expressing a desire for strong cooperation with the UNDP AI Hub, Governor Park conveyed his intention to continue the partnership through future communication, such as signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Regarding the bid to host the UN AI Hub, he stated, "The UN AI Hub sets balance and harmony as its main goals. Since this aligns with the AI industrial innovation, AI basic society, and three major balances presented by Chungnam Province, I am confident that this will act as a major strength for Chungnam."
Head of Office Kizom Ngodup Massali emphasized, "A better model does not automatically produce a better outcome. As we have seen outcomes being created across more diverse environments for more people when the industrial sector innovates together with governments and local communities, AI will serve as a powerful tool to bridge gaps."
He further stated, "AI is contributing to improving daily life not only in businesses but also in agriculture and patient care in hospitals. If South Korea joins in providing practical help to underprivileged classes and countries—where people cannot study due to lack of internet or cannot receive treatment due to lack of hospital software—many young people around the world will benefit, and the future will become better and more sustainable."
The UNDP AI Hub was officially launched in June of last year, jointly promoted by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and the UNDP, following approval at the G7 Summit during Italy’s G7 Presidency in 2024.
Its establishment purpose is to support inclusive and sustainable AI-based industrial development by strengthening the foundation of the AI ecosystem in the African region.
The target scope covers 18 African countries, including Algeria, Egypt, and Senegal, and key areas of cooperation include supporting the introduction of AI in priority sectors such as energy, agriculture, healthcare, water resources, and education and training.
Meanwhile, the South Korean government proclaimed its vision for a Global AI Hub last May.
This vision entails establishing a global cooperation platform—the Global AI Hub (UN AI Hub)—in South Korea, in partnership with 9 international organizations and 5 multilateral development banks, to resolve common human challenges such as the climate crisis, public health, and food security using AI.
The government aims to launch operations in the first half of next year and select the location for the UN AI Hub within this year through a public contest targeting regional local governments.
Its main functions include establishing AI standards and guidelines, building a cross-national resource and technology cooperation network, and developing and demonstrating AI solutions to solve common challenges faced by the international community.
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