By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) — The science ministry stated Friday it has picked a consortium led by Motif Technologies Inc. to affix the continued mission to develop homegrown synthetic intelligence (AI) basis fashions.
The Ministry of Science and ICT stated the team, which additionally contains the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), has been chosen as an extra contender to take part in this system.
Last month, the science ministry shortlisted three groups, led by SK Telecom Co., LG AI Research and Upstage, respectively, whereas eliminating two others led by Naver Cloud Corp. and NC AI Co. from the state-funded program to develop homegrown, proprietary AI basis fashions.
Upon saying the preliminary three contenders, the federal government stated it could choose one extra consortium to affix the competitors.
Kim Kyung-man, director common for AI coverage on the Ministry of Science and ICT, speaks throughout a press briefing held in Seoul on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)
An AI basis model refers to a large-scale system educated on broad information that may be tailored for a variety of duties. The authorities goals to foster homegrown fashions as a part of its push to develop into one of many world’s high three AI powerhouses.
“(The Motif Technologies consortium) was acknowledged for its experience in designing AI models based on an independent architecture and for achieving performance competitive with global models despite a limited data environment,” Kim Kyung-man, director common for AI coverage on the ministry, stated throughout a press briefing.
The solely different applicant for the extra opening was a consortium led by Trillion Labs, with Naver and NC AI selecting to not apply regardless of being eligible to take action.
The Motif Technologies consortium, together with the three present contenders, will likely be supplied with varied assist, such as entry to graphics processing items (GPUs) and information, together with different obligatory help, the ministry stated.
“Major big-tech companies, such as OpenAI and Anthropic, were not large and globally acknowledged organizations from the start,” Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon stated in a launch.
“The government will spare no efforts in establishing a broader and competitive AI ecosystem in South Korea through the challenges of all the participating companies,” Bae added.
The authorities plans to select two ultimate winners earlier than the top of the 12 months, which can proceed to obtain state assist.
Kim Kyung-man, director common for AI coverage on the Ministry of Science and ICT, speaks throughout a press briefing held in Seoul on Feb. 20, 2026. (Yonhap)
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