SKKU
Published on 1 July 2026
SKKU announced that its “SKKU National Research Laboratory for Intelligent Energy Solutions” has been selected for the National Research Laboratory (NRL2.0) Program jointly promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Education.
The National Research Laboratory (NRL2.0) Program is Korea’s flagship research initiative designed to foster university-affiliated research institutes capable of leading world-first, world-class basic research. Selected institutes receive approximately KRW 10 billion annually, with total funding of up to KRW 95 billion over a ten-year period.
The newly selected SKKU National Research Laboratory for Intelligent Energy Solutions will be directed by Professor Nam-Gyu Park and aims to establish a next-generation intelligent energy platform that integrates energy generation, storage, and utilization technologies with artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin technologies.
The laboratory plans to develop industry-tailored intelligent energy solutions capable of providing stable large-scale energy supplies while responding to highly fluctuating loads such as AI Data Centers (AIDCs). To achieve this, it will organically combine high-efficiency solar cells, next-generation Energy Storage Systems (ESS), industrial electrification technologies, and AI-powered digital twin technologies.
In particular, the laboratory seeks to secure core technologies for “Sovereign Energy,” enabling not only energy independence and carbon neutrality but also strengthening national energy security and future industrial competitiveness. Through these efforts, the institute is expected to present a new paradigm for future energy systems and further enhance Korea’s global competitiveness in energy technologies.
The laboratory will bring together 122 researchers from across SKKU, including 40 faculty-level co-investigators and 82 research personnel representing the fields of energy, semiconductors, AI, power systems, and engineering systems. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, the initiative is expected to contribute significantly to cultivating future energy talent, expanding global research and industry partnerships, and accelerating technology commercialization.
Professor Nam-Gyu Park, Director of the laboratory, stated, “Building on the innovation of fundamental research and the strengths of interdisciplinary collaboration, we will develop this institute into a national flagship research center that elevates Korea’s energy technologies to a world-leading level. By advancing sovereign energy technologies that integrate AI and energy, we aim to contribute simultaneously to national energy security and industrial competitiveness.”
With its selection for the National Research Laboratory Program, SKKU plans to further strengthen its position as a global research hub in energy–AI convergence, while accelerating efforts to secure future strategic technologies and foster a sustainable innovation ecosystem.
