South Korea Launches 1st AI Semiconductor Technology Talent Contest

The National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) and the Korea Association for ICT Promotion (KAIT) have launched the 1st AI Semiconductor Technology Talent Contest to discover and recruit software engineers, aiming to establish South Korea as a leader in AI semiconductor technology. Despite the industry's rapid growth, South Korean companies face significant challenges in securing the necessary talent for technological innovation and market competitiveness. The contest, supported by South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, seeks to address this issue.

The contest will focus on discovering talent in the software engineering field and recruiting them for major AI semiconductor companies in South Korea. The South Korea Semiconductor Engineering Association and the South Korea AI Semiconductor Collaboration Forum will form a jury to identify key human resources that can drive technological innovation and support companies in finding customized talent.

Open to anyone with Korean nationality interested in the AI semiconductor industry, the competition will feature four categories: "Mobile Edge," "Server," "Semiconductor Design," and "sLLM·sLM." Applications began on August 12, and the competition will conclude with an awards ceremony in December after the final presentation evaluation. Eleven South Korean AI semiconductor companies, including Nextchip, DEEPX, Rebelion, Mangoboost, SAPEON, OPENEDGES Technology, UXfactory, Telechips, FuriosaAI, Future Design System, and HYPER ACCEL, will participate, presenting real-world problems for participants to solve.

Participants will plan and implement ideas to address the topics presented by the companies, with the selected teams evaluated on their planning and implementation capabilities. Nine teams will be selected as winners, and the competition will last four months. The award ceremony in December will present certificates and 160 million won in prizes, with the first-place team receiving 40 million won, four second-place teams receiving 20 million won each, and four third-place teams receiving 10 million won each.

Regardless of their performance, competition teams will have employment opportunities with ten participating companies. Additional support programs, including online briefing sessions, mentoring with demanding companies, and professional employment consulting, will also be available.