With a strategic focus on AI, Energy, Materials, Bio-Health, Smart Technologies,and Basic Science, POSTECH strengthens its research competitiveness for the 21st century.
Basic Science
POSTECH aspires to become one of the world's best in selected research areas in science and engineering, such as next-generation materials. Complemented by excellent research institutes and infrastructures that are second to none in Asia, including the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, the Max Planck Korea/POSTECH, the Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics, the Graduate Institute of Ferrous Technology, and the National Institute of Nanomaterials Technology, POSTECH seeks new breakthroughs in basic and applied research that can advance the world. POSTECH strives to conduct venturous and creative research in basic sciences. Three research centers of the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), which were recently established by the Korean government to promote world-class research in basic sciences, are located at POSTECH. Four outstanding scientists and their teams in the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and life sciences are currently carrying out world-class research on campus. POSTECH is also a leader and innovator in the field of engineering. A prime example of POSTECH's commitment to collaborative and multidisciplinary engineering education and research is the Department of Convergence IT Engineering (CiTE). By performing world-first high-impact research that takes advantage of Korea’s phenomenal strengths in IT and deploying a new educational paradigm that emphasizes self-initiation in problem-solving, collaboration, and entrepreneurship, CiTE is laying a strong foundation for the future to advance IT companies' innovative capacities to the next level, elevate their competitiveness, and solidify their position as global leaders and innovators.
With pioneering and excellent research, POSTECH is leading the innovative technology development that the industry needs and also implementing a new academia-industry cooperation system in Korea based on a mutually beneficial long-term partnership between the university and industry. Also, by organizing the Association of POSTECH Grown Companies (APGC), which consists of over 50 venture companies founded by university members and alumni, POSTECH actively promotes the creation and growth of start-up ventures by supporting entrepreneurs with practical help such as entrepreneurship education/training, venture mentoring, angel funding, and management consultation. To spread entrepreneurship to the members, POSTECH is providing programs and services that can produce new core patents and strategies such as Technology Trend Analysis and IP Portfolio. POSTECH also established a Business Development Team to deal with technology transfer, patent registration, patent application, and start-up.
Our university fosters a vibrant research culture through various programs unique to POSTECH. One of the most prominent programs is "Introduce My Research," a competition where POSTECH members—including graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and researchers—deliver 3-minute presentations about their research or expertise in a way that is accessible to non-specialists. Additionally, we support the "Interdisciplinary Research Group Meeting" initiative, aimed at promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration and interaction among faculty members, providing opportunities to generate new ideas and discover potential research projects. Through these programs, we strive to create a culture of sharing and discussion that transcends disciplinary boundaries while accelerating the dissemination of research achievements and encouraging interdisciplinary innovation.