Sejong University’s Future GPU Research Institute has signed a memorandum of understanding with two artificial intelligence technology companies, Certisilicon and ThetaON, to establish a sovereign AI ecosystem in South Korea. The agreement aims to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and reduce the country’s reliance on overseas AI semiconductors and cloud computing infrastructure.
The MoU was signed on July 7 at the university’s Seoul campus. Park Woo-chan, director of the Future GPU Research Institute, formalized the partnership with Certisilicon CEO Andy Ko and ThetaON CEO Lee Young-hwan. The collaboration marks the research institute’s first industry-academia cooperation agreement since its establishment in May.
Under the agreement, the three parties will combine their expertise in AI semiconductor and GPU research with AI systems software and infrastructure technologies. The goal is to build a self-reliant AI ecosystem that supports industries requiring high levels of data security and independent control over AI infrastructure, including defense and manufacturing.
Park Woo-chan discussed ways to expand industry-academia collaboration and pursue joint research with the company leaders following the signing ceremony. “Through the institute’s first MoU since its founding, we have laid the groundwork for pursuing joint research with AI-focused companies”, Park said. “Going forward, we will apply next-generation AI computing technologies in industrial settings and develop a successful model that represents Korea’s sovereign AI ecosystem".
Certisilicon is an AI semiconductor and computing solutions company that develops generative AI infrastructure based on its AI inference optimization software, ThetaKernel, and AI computing platform, MetaX. The company provides on-premises AI infrastructure tailored to customers’ specific environments and is working to establish a global AI computing ecosystem.
ThetaON specializes in AI systems infrastructure optimization. The company holds key patents in technologies such as theta-dynamic control, task-specific persistent memory, and semantic-based storage. It is currently developing next-generation AI software designed to maximize computing efficiency and overall system performance.
The partnership brings together complementary strengths. Sejong University’s research institute contributes advanced expertise in GPU and AI semiconductor research, while the two companies provide practical software platforms, optimization tools, and infrastructure solutions. Together, they aim to create technologies that can be applied directly in industrial environments where data sovereignty and security are critical.
South Korea has been actively promoting the development of domestic AI capabilities as part of broader efforts to reduce dependence on foreign technology providers. Sovereign AI ecosystems are particularly important for sectors that handle sensitive information and require full control over their computing environments. By focusing on on-premises solutions rather than relying solely on overseas cloud services, the collaboration seeks to address these strategic needs.
Park Woo-chan is also leading two research projects funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT. The first project focuses on super-realistic XR technology that connects the real and virtual worlds in the metaverse. The second aims to commercialize intellectual property related to real-time denoising AI hardware. These projects align with the broader goals of the new partnership by advancing practical applications of AI computing technologies.
The Future GPU Research Institute was established to advance research in next-generation graphics processing and AI computing. Its first formal industry partnership signals a clear intention to move research outcomes into real-world industrial applications. The collaboration with Certisilicon and ThetaON is expected to accelerate the development of domestic AI infrastructure solutions while fostering closer ties between academic research and commercial technology development.
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Officials involved in the partnership expressed confidence that the joint efforts will contribute to building a more independent and competitive AI ecosystem in South Korea. By combining university research capabilities with specialized industry expertise, the three institutions aim to create a model for sovereign AI development that can support national priorities in security-sensitive sectors.
The agreement reflects a growing trend of universities and technology companies working together to address strategic technological challenges. As AI continues to play a larger role in critical industries, collaborations of this kind are expected to become increasingly important for ensuring technological self-reliance and long-term competitiveness.
