Pukyong National University

Pukyong National University Partners with Samsung Electronics to Establish an AI/DT-Based “Smart Campus”

- On the 7th, Pukyong National University and Samsung Electronics sign an MOU on smart campus collaboration

Pukyong National University has partnered with Samsung Electronics to establish an AI/DT-based smart campus solution, the first of its kind in Korea. On the morning of April 7, the two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the university’s main administration building in Daeyeon-dong, Busan, to promote joint research and development and cooperation for building a smart campus.

At the signing ceremony, President Sang-Hoon Bae of Pukyong National University and Lim Sung-Taek, Head of Samsung Electronics Korea, agreed to collaborate on investment, technology development, performance verification, and service implementation required for the “smart campus solution” at the university’s Daeyeon Campus. They also agreed to further expand their cooperation to include AI/DT solution business initiatives in the future.

The smart campus solution to be implemented at Pukyong National University by Samsung Electronics consists of three main components: the “b.IoT solution,” which integrates and operates key building facilities―such as HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), lighting, power, and renewable energy systems―on a single platform; “SmartThings Pro,” a cloud-based maintenance solution that remotely monitors HVAC systems and predicts and analyzes potential failures; and a “DT (Digital Twin) solution,” which creates a virtual 3D model of actual buildings to analyze and forecast operational data in areas such as energy, environment, and security, thereby maximizing operational efficiency. These solutions represent next-generation technologies that leverage cloud, IoT, and AI-based optimization algorithms to simultaneously achieve optimal building operation environments and energy efficiency across campus facilities.

In recent years, Samsung Electronics has carried out demonstration projects applying its AI-based b.IoT solutions to large office buildings, research institutes, and factories/plants both in Korea and abroad, confirming annual energy savings of 15-18% (based on IPMVP standards).

This agreement marks the first attempt to expand b.IoT solutions from a single-building model to the integrated operation of multiple campus buildings. University campuses, which consist of dozens of buildings encompassing lecture halls, offices, laboratories, and research facilities equipped with advanced equipment, have been identified as optimal environments for verifying the effectiveness of b.IoT solutions. Accordingly, Samsung Electronics has decided to establish the smart campus solution at Pukyong National University―where joint research has already been conducted―as a testbed.

Under this agreement, the two institutions will first implement the b.IoT, Digital Twin, and SmartThings Pro solutions in five buildings on Pukyong National University’s Daeyeon Campus in a phased manner, and conduct integrated operation demonstrations across various domains, including air conditioning systems, which are critical to energy and environmental management, as well as power (including solar energy), lighting, security, and networks.

Over the next three years, they will carry out technology validation, including the development of AI-based optimal control algorithms and IoT solutions, as well as virtual simulations using digital twin technology, along with performance verification. Based on these outcomes, the project will be gradually expanded to newly constructed buildings and eventually across the entire campus, with the goal of establishing Korea’s leading AI-based smart campus.

To this end, Pukyong National University plans to establish a joint AI research center (tentatively named the AI Convergence Innovation Institute) in collaboration with Samsung Electronics. Faculty members from departments such as Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineering, Architectural Engineering, and Fire Protection Engineering will participate in industry-academic joint research projects, with plans to further expand participation to related fields such as Mechanical Engineering and Design. Through this collaboration, the university also aims to cultivate specialized professionals with practical expertise in the field.

In Busan and across industry, expectations are growing that this agreement will serve as a significant milestone for the development of smart campuses and the wider adoption of eco-friendly energy-saving technologies.