On April 1, UNIST and the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service (COMWEL) have entered into a strategic partnership to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into public data, with the goal of advancing policy development and improving public services. 

The signing for the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was attended by UNIST President Chong Rae Park, COMWEL President Jongkil Park, along with key representatives from both organizations.

The agreement reflects a shared commitment to enhancing the precision of public sector policy and operations in line with the ongoing digital transformation. By combining COMWEL's field-based administrative data with UNIST's expertise in AI research and education, the collaboration aims to translate research outcomes into practical improvements in public services. 

As part of the effort, COMWEL previously participated in the AI training program of UNIST Novatus Academia, where it developed a predictive model to identify eligible participants for a small and medium enterprise retirement pension fund. The project, conducted through a project-based learning (PBL) approach, received top recognition. Building on this foundation, both institutions will further refine the model for real-world application. 

The partnership also includes joint research on policy and operational challenges, specialized training for public-sector professionals, and the development of tailored programs to cultivate AI expertise. Additional areas of collaboration include data analytics, decision-support systems, public-sector pilot projects, technology transfer, and the dissemination of best practices. 

UNIST will identify research projects with direct public-sector applicability and support their implementation—from validation in real-world settings to potential commercialization. COMWEL will contribute its policy expertise and operational data to define demand-driven research priorities and guide AI adoption in administrative processes. 

Through this collaboration, both institutions aim to accelerate digital transformation in the public sector, expand the adoption of AI-driven models, and enhance the efficiency and accuracy of public services. 

“AI is emerging as a key driver not only in industry but also in the transformation of public services,” said President Chong Rae Park. “Together with COMWEL, we will develop AI models tailored to the public sector and translate them into meaningful improvements that citizens can experience.” 

President Jongkil Park added, “By combining UNIST's strengths in AI research and education with COMWEL's policy expertise, we expect to enhance both the efficiency and quality of public services.”