Changwon National University's SMR² Platform National Research Center Selected for State Project; Rep. Choi Hyung-du Says "Changwon to Leap Forward as AI Hub"

As Changwon National University's SMR² Platform National Research Center was finally selected for the 2026 National Research Center project promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Education, Representative Choi Hyung-du of the People Power Party, who has actively supported the initiative, stated, "Following the Special Act on SMR Global Foundry, we have established a foundation for Changwon to firmly leap forward as a center of the new energy industry in the AI era."

Rep. Choi, who serves as the ranking member of the opposition party on the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, has consistently raised the necessity of the national research center project.

The national research center project, NRL 2.0, is a core national research program promoted by the government for the first time to foster world-class university-affiliated research institutes under the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Education.

This year, only four research centers were selected nationwide, including two national-type and two regional-type centers. The selected centers will receive research funding of 10 billion won per year for up to 10 years, totaling 100 billion won.

Changwon National University's SMR² Platform National Research Center aims to develop core materials specialized for nuclear power plants, structural integrity, energy conversion, and system integration and expansion technologies. It also aims to build a global SMR autonomous operation platform linked with AI and Mega-HILS (Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation).

Through this, the center aims to secure core technologies for AI-based next-generation Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and grow into a key research hub that will lead the global SMR market.

"The selection of this national research center will be a historic turning point for Changwon to leap forward as a world-class SMR research and development hub," said Rep. Choi Hyung-du. "SMR is a next-generation energy source that will support the skyrocketing power demand in the AI era and a future growth engine for the Republic of Korea."

(Photo: Provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.