[New York] New York University (NYU) President Linda G. Mills and Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) President Kwang Hyung Lee officially signed an agreement on September 21 (local time) to collaborate in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies. This strategic partnership involves key players from various sectors and was celebrated at NYU's Greenwich Village campus.
The signing ceremony was attended by high-level officials, including the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol; Korea's Minister of Science and ICT, Jong-Ho Lee; Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF); New York City Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Labor, Maria Torres-Springer; and Turing Prize-winning AI researcher and NYU faculty member Yann LeCun. The event also welcomed Senator Charles Schumer via video link to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the inaugural Digital Vision Forum, which laid the groundwork for collaboration between NYU, the Republic of Korea, and KAIST.
In his remarks, President Yoon emphasized the historic significance of this partnership, which positions NYU, New York City, and Korea at the forefront of the global science and technology landscape of the future.
NYU President Mills expressed her honor to bring together leaders from government, academia, and industry, and emphasized the role of the partnership in advancing science and technology. She highlighted NYU's commitment to global learning and research while fostering the growth of New York City's technology, science and innovation sector.
Senator Schumer praised the collaboration between NYU and the South Korean government. This is a partnership made in heaven: He called it an ideal partnership between a leading U.S. research institution and one of America's strongest allies, renowned for its research and scientific achievements. He emphasized the urgency of addressing artificial intelligence, a critical issue of our time, through such partnerships.
NSF Director Panchanathan echoed the sentiments of a robust alliance between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea, emphasizing their shared commitment to democratic principles, economic cooperation, and technological advancement. He stressed the importance of ethical AI development, focusing on values such as openness, transparency, responsible AI tools, and the protection of privacy and security.
The collaborative research initiative, known as the ROK Institutions-NYU AI and Digital Partnership, aims to conduct cutting-edge research in AI and digital technologies, with NYU expected to serve as its headquarters. This event marks an expansion of NYU's existing partnerships and strengthens its ties with Korean institutions. It featured an in-depth panel discussion on AI and digital governance, moderated by Professor Matthew Liao, Director of the Center for Bioethics at NYU's School of Global Public Health.
This momentous occasion adds to President Linda G. Mills' impressive track record of global agreements. Previously, she signed a research partnership agreement with IIT Kanpur in India, an agreement that was recognized by U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in their joint statement. She also renewed a partnership agreement between NYU's Shanghai campus and East China Normal University, reaffirming NYU's commitment to global presence, strength, and character as a top priority of her administration.
