10 Korean STEM Fellows Engage with UAE National Experts on Future Cooperation - Middle East Business News and Information
Abu Dhabi, May 14, 2025 – South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) brought together their next-generation leaders to explore future cooperation in science, technology, innovation, and sustainability.
A special exchange event was held at the Emirates Foundation in Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Korea Foundation (KF). The event featured participants from the KF Global Fellows program and the UAE government's National Experts Program (NEP), marking the first formal engagement between rising STEM leaders from both countries.
The gathering served as a platform for in-depth dialogue on shared national goals, including sustainability through innovation, the future of energy, talent mobility, and cross-border policy collaboration.
The UAE's NEP cultivates strategic planning and innovation capabilities among mid-career professionals across government sectors. Similarly, the KF Global Fellows program aims to strengthen Korea's global leadership in STEM by providing international exposure to outstanding young professionals. Both programs share a mission: to equip future leaders with the tools to address global challenges and forge meaningful partnerships.
The 10 fellows include Minsang Yu (CSO of AUTONOMOUS A2Z), Daewon Yoon (Researcher at Samsung Electronics), Keehoon Kang (Professor at Seoul National Univ.), Keungoui Kim (Professor at Yonsei Univ.), Sunghak Park (Professor at Sungkyunkwan Univ.), Jongho Won (Professor at Dankook Univ.), Jungwoo Kim (Researcher at KIST), Jeehye Min (Researcher at STEPI), Sungil Yun (Researcher at KITECH), and Wona Lee (Researcher at NIGT).
Following their UAE visit, the fellows will continue to Vietnam and Singapore to engage with leading scientific institutions including the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
The delegation is accompanied by two senior mentors: Dr. Wonsoo Kim, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and current Director of the Future Civilization Institute at Kyung Hee University; and Professor Hwasoo Yeo of KAIST's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Kim noted, 'Addressing global challenges like climate change and AI transformation requires transnational solidarity. This exchange reflects our joint commitment to preparing the next generation of global leaders.'
The Korean Foundation will continue to expand the Global Fellows program, promoting STEM-based policy cooperation, international joint research, and startup partnerships-solidifying South Korea's position as a global leader in science and technology.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mid East Info
14-05-2025
- Mid East Info
10 Korean STEM Fellows Engage with UAE National Experts on Future Cooperation - Middle East Business News and Information
Abu Dhabi, May 14, 2025 – South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) brought together their next-generation leaders to explore future cooperation in science, technology, innovation, and sustainability. A special exchange event was held at the Emirates Foundation in Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Korea Foundation (KF). The event featured participants from the KF Global Fellows program and the UAE government's National Experts Program (NEP), marking the first formal engagement between rising STEM leaders from both countries. The gathering served as a platform for in-depth dialogue on shared national goals, including sustainability through innovation, the future of energy, talent mobility, and cross-border policy collaboration. The UAE's NEP cultivates strategic planning and innovation capabilities among mid-career professionals across government sectors. Similarly, the KF Global Fellows program aims to strengthen Korea's global leadership in STEM by providing international exposure to outstanding young professionals. Both programs share a mission: to equip future leaders with the tools to address global challenges and forge meaningful partnerships. The 10 fellows include Minsang Yu (CSO of AUTONOMOUS A2Z), Daewon Yoon (Researcher at Samsung Electronics), Keehoon Kang (Professor at Seoul National Univ.), Keungoui Kim (Professor at Yonsei Univ.), Sunghak Park (Professor at Sungkyunkwan Univ.), Jongho Won (Professor at Dankook Univ.), Jungwoo Kim (Researcher at KIST), Jeehye Min (Researcher at STEPI), Sungil Yun (Researcher at KITECH), and Wona Lee (Researcher at NIGT). Following their UAE visit, the fellows will continue to Vietnam and Singapore to engage with leading scientific institutions including the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). The delegation is accompanied by two senior mentors: Dr. Wonsoo Kim, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and current Director of the Future Civilization Institute at Kyung Hee University; and Professor Hwasoo Yeo of KAIST's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Kim noted, 'Addressing global challenges like climate change and AI transformation requires transnational solidarity. This exchange reflects our joint commitment to preparing the next generation of global leaders.' The Korean Foundation will continue to expand the Global Fellows program, promoting STEM-based policy cooperation, international joint research, and startup partnerships-solidifying South Korea's position as a global leader in science and technology.
See - Sada Elbalad
23-01-2025
- See - Sada Elbalad
Hanwha Announces Strategic Partnership with IISS to Establish Korea Chair
Yara Sameh Hanwha announced on Thursday a strategic partnership with the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and the Korea Foundation (KF) to establish the Korea Chair at IISS. The signing ceremony took place at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore. The initiative will fund a full-time Senior Fellow for Korean Security Studies—the IISS Korea Chair in Advanced Technologies, National Security, and Defense—at IISS' London headquarters, Arundel House. The Chair will engage with governments, the private sector, and global expert communities, contributing research and expertise to major international security forums, including the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue. Founded in 1958 in the United Kingdom, IISS is a globally recognized think tank specializing in nuclear deterrence, arms control, and international security. It is best known for hosting the Shangri-La Dialogue and the Manama Dialogue, two of the world's most influential defense summits. The partnership underscores Hanwha's commitment to fostering industry dialogue and expanding its global presence in the defense and security sectors, particularly in Europe and the Middle East. 'Hanwha's strategic partnership with IISS, a leading global think tank in defense and security, represents a significant milestone for South Korea's defense industry,' said Jae-il Son, President and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace. 'We will continue to engage with policymakers through various channels and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with global defense companies.' Bastian Giegerich, IISS Director-General and Chief Executive said, 'Advance technology, national security and the defense industry are evolving faster and becoming more critical than ever. The research outcomes of the Korean Chair will make a significant contribution in this field.' Gheewhan Kim, President of the Korea Foundation, who facilitated the partnership between Hanwha and IISS, said the initiative marks an important expansion of Korea-focused research beyond U.S.-based think tanks. 'This will broaden understanding and foster a positive perception of East Asia's geopolitical issues and South Korea's defense industry across the EU, NATO, and the Middle East,' he said. About Hanwha Group Hanwha is South Korea's seventh-largest business group, with innovative businesses in the areas of aerospace & mechatronics, defense, clean energy & ocean solutions, finance, and retail & services. It is a multinational company with a robust global network of affiliates, which allows leverage synergy to deliver transformative solutions and impactful innovations that catalyze sustainable growth across industries and communities. With strong fundamentals in core industries, Hanwha enhances lives through technologies, products, and services. For more information, visit:
Mid East Info
02-11-2024
- Mid East Info
Fourth Cohort of National Experts Program to Include 25 Participants from Diverse Sectors - Middle East Business News and Information
The UAE National Experts Program (NEP) today announced the selection of 25 participants for its fourth cohort, and the 12-month long training program will be led by 25 mentors, as per the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in order to nurture a national cadre of experts in diverse fields. H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Martyrs Families, is the custodian of the fourth cohort of NEP. His Highness said that the NEP was a principal platform for capacity building for Emirati experts in the UAE, and for enhancing their skills in areas of national priority in accordance with the futuristic development trajectories of the country. 'The program will also sharpen their forward-thinking ability to achieve strategic goals in different domains,' he added. His Highness continued: 'Experts are the nucleus of progress, and their specialist skills play a pivotal role in building a bright future for the UAE. Through these, knowledge, innovation, science and inventions flourish, leading to the nation's development in various fields, especially those that involve meeting challenges and transforming them into opportunities for the purpose of sustainable progress,' he elaborated. His Highness highlighted that the NEP embodied the UAE's commitment to developing minds and employing qualitative expertise to address pressing challenges to serve society and humanity, and to provide solutions and innovations for a better global future where the interplay of expertise, capabilities and competencies result in growth and prosperity for all. His Excellency Ahmed Taleb Al Shamsi, Director of the NEP, explained that the fourth cohort consisted of an impressive group of participants and mentors, as the current one included 13 women and 12 men who were carefully selected from among approximately 1,180 applicants who were evaluated as per global competitiveness evaluation standards. 'Starting from the selection stage through the use of an advanced artificial intelligence system to identify the best 250 applicants, via the evaluation stage and the interview to the final stage under the supervision of a committee of experts, they underwent rigorous assessments. The fourth batch is full of high academic achievers, including 24% PhD holders, and 76% Master's degree holders,' he explained. His Excellency said that the participants will train under the experts in 25 main sectors that fall into three economic groups: economic and social development, sustainability and infrastructure. 'These three groups include diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, financial services, security, defence solutions, charitable work, foreign affairs, policy-making, biodiversity, space, and food and water security. Together, these fields constitute the basic pillars for achieving the strategic goals of the UAE,' he concluded.
