ASAN, South Korea — Soonchunhyang University has officially joined hands with Viva Republica (the operator of the fintech giant Toss) to accelerate its transformation into an AI-centered institution. On February 23, the two entities signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) titled "Building a Student-Centered Smart Campus and Establishing an Innovation Ecosystem Based on Industry-Academic Cooperation."

This partnership is particularly significant as it marks the first time Toss has entered into a formal collaborative agreement with a university.

A Strategic Response to the 2026 AI-Focused University Project
Industry analysts view this move as a calculated strategy to secure a spot in the Ministry of Science and ICT’s "2026 AI-Focused University Project." This government initiative aims to overhaul university curricula to be AI-centric and cultivate specialized talent in AI and AX (AI Transformation) that meets current industrial demands. By partnering with Toss, Soonchunhyang University aims to preemptively strengthen its educational and industrial infrastructure.

Under the terms of the agreement, the university will:

Implement Toss Financial Services: Toss Pay and other electronic transaction services will be integrated into the campus in stages, creating a cutting-edge digital payment and financial environment.
Accelerate Digital Transformation (DX): Leverage Toss’s advanced data and platform technologies to modernize campus-wide operations.
Fueling the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
Beyond infrastructure, Toss is committed to fostering a culture of innovation among students. The fintech leader will provide 20 million KRW in startup support funds. These funds will be linked to on-campus entrepreneurship programs to help identify student teams, refine business ideas, and support the early stages of commercialization. Furthermore, both parties have agreed to jointly explore industry-academic models that can integrate with various government and local municipality initiatives.

The Synergy of Finance, Data, and Healthcare
Financial infrastructure is a critical component of data-driven industries. The university expects this partnership to expand into:

AI Medical Data Analysis
Digital Healthcare Services
Platform Models for Medical and Health Startups

This vertical integration aligns perfectly with the "Industry-Academic Expansion System" emphasized by the government’s AI-Focused University Project. It creates a virtuous cycle where education, research, and commercialization feed into one another.

"This agreement is a strategic measure to materialize the innovative educational systems and industrial capabilities required by the AI-Focused University Project," said Song Byung-guk, President of Soonchunhyang University. "We will lead the AX transition, particularly in AI-medical convergence, and establish a university model that aligns with national policies for cultivating AI talent."

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