More than 1,000 scientists and engineers from South Korea and the United States gathered to discuss joint research and technology commercialization in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), biohealth, aerospace, and semiconductors.
The Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies (KOFST) announced that the '2026 Korea-U.S. Science and Technology Conference (UKC 2026)' opened on August 6 in Orlando, Florida, co-hosted by the Korean American Scientists and Engineers Association and the Korea-U.S. Science Cooperation Center.
UKC is a Korean scientific and technological conference held in North America. It was first held in 1994 and has been conducted in collaboration with KOFST since 2002. This year's theme is 'From Imagination to Innovation – Into Reality.' Over 1,000 participants from Korea and the U.S. are discussing joint research and technology commercialization strategies in key strategic technology areas, including AI, biohealth, aerospace, semiconductors, and clean energy.
In his opening remarks, KOFST President Kwon Oh-nam stated, "It is meaningful to open a venue for innovation where Korean and American scientists and engineers can turn imagination into reality in Orlando, the center of global technological innovation. When scientists and engineers from Korea and the U.S. resonate beyond borders and academic boundaries, great achievements that can change the future of humanity will be created."
Following the opening ceremony, an 'AI Forum' was held, focusing on the 'Genesis Mission' led by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), discussing ways to connect high-performance computing, AI, basic science, and industrial sites.
Kwon emphasized the need for strategic cooperation between Korea and the U.S. in the AI era during the forum. KOFST plans to strengthen its role as a science and technology cooperation platform connecting domestic and international industry, academia, and research.
UKC 2026 will feature not only academic programs but also initiatives for industry-academia-research collaboration, technology commercialization, science and technology policy, entrepreneurship, and nurturing the next generation of researchers. Programs such as SEED workshops, FIRE symposiums, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship Symposiums (IES) will support international joint research and networking for emerging scientists and technologists. Additionally, KOFST will hold the 'KOFST Next Generation Alumni Forum (YGF·YPF)' to facilitate exchanges among young scientists and engineers, including next-generation Korean American scientists and emerging researchers from Korea.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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