Pukyong National University

Pukyong National University Accelerates Transformation into Research-Oriented University with Launch of ‘Pukyong Flagship Research Institute’

- Briefing on implementation plan held on September 16 … Full-cycle support from planning and securing national R&D projects to disseminating research outcomes

- Strategic research hubs to be established in fields including AI … Target of securing KRW 100 billion in large-scale national R&D projects

- Convergence research ecosystem to expand externally through a “Research Pentagon” connecting industry, government, research institutes, and universities

Pukyong National University (President Sang-Hoon Bae) is accelerating its transformation into a research-oriented university with the establishment of the Pukyong Flagship Research Institute, a strategic convergence research institute that will oversee interdisciplinary and strategic research.

On September 16, Pukyong National University held a briefing on its Comprehensive Implementation Plan for the Transformation into a Research-Oriented University in the conference room of the university administration building. President Sang-Hoon Bae personally led the briefing, presenting five key initiatives, including the establishment of the Pukyong Flagship Research Institute, and sharing the university’s vision and strategic direction for its transformation into a research-oriented university.

Pukyong National University is restructuring its research system to respond to the rapidly changing R&D environment driven by AI transformation (AX) and national strategic technologies, while expanding the research capabilities of individual researchers into collective and interdisciplinary research capabilities at the university level. In particular, the university plans to establish a full-cycle research support system encompassing research planning, securing national R&D projects, research implementation, talent development, and the dissemination of research outcomes, with the goal of taking its research competitiveness to the next level.

Pukyong National University has already laid a solid foundation for its transformation into a research-oriented university, backed by strong research capabilities. The university ranked first among 25 national universities nationwide in research funding received per full-time faculty member, according to the 2025 disclosure by the Higher Education in Korea information service. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, five fields―including Chemical Engineering (301-350), Environmental Sciences, Business, Economics, and Chemistry―were ranked globally. In addition, the proportion of the university’s papers published in journals within the top 25% by CiteScore reached 64.7% in 2025 and continues to rise.

Pukyong National University plans to expand these research strengths into collective and interdisciplinary research capabilities at the university level. To this end, the university will pursue five key initiatives for its transformation into a research-oriented university: △ establishing the Pukyong Flagship Research Institute △ strengthening research capabilities and providing strategic support for securing national R&D projects △ creating a researcher-centered environment that enables researchers to focus on their work △ building an interdisciplinary, research-oriented learning ecosystem △ expanding the research ecosystem and creating a virtuous cycle of research outcomes.

Established earlier this month, the Pukyong Flagship Research Institute is an independent research organization directly under the university president. It will serve as an AI-based, full-cycle platform for interdisciplinary research, bringing together the university’s currently dispersed research, education, and administrative capabilities while supporting large-scale national R&D projects from planning and acquisition to implementation and the dissemination of outcomes. In particular, the institute will systematically operate the Arctic Route Innovation Institute and the AI-Ready Innovation Institute under its umbrella. It will also identify outstanding researchers and strategic research areas to establish a virtuous cycle in which research achievements lead to follow-up studies and talent development rather than ending as one-off outcomes.

To support this initiative, Pukyong National University has also established a coordinated support system in which the Office of Graduate Studies and Research, created through the reorganization of the existing graduate school and Office of Research Support, and the Industry-University Cooperation Foundation work in close collaboration with the PKNU Flagship Research Institute.

Beyond building an internal research ecosystem, the Pukyong Flagship Research Institute will actively extend its capabilities beyond the university. It plans to establish a “Research Pentagon” that expands collaboration with companies, government agencies, government-funded research institutes, and universities in Korea and abroad. Through this framework, the university will create a virtuous cycle of research outcomes by △ expanding joint degree programs with universities in Korea and abroad △ introducing industry-linked degree programs in partnership with companies △ promoting joint research and technology commercialization △ expanding talent exchanges and global networks.

Pukyong National University President Sang-Hoon Bae said, “Marking its 80th anniversary this year, Pukyong National University has evolved into a specialized comprehensive national university encompassing interdisciplinary and advanced fields, building on its strong foundations in marine and fisheries sciences, engineering, and other fundamental academic disciplines following the integration of the former National Fisheries University of Busan and Busan National University of Technology. We will continue to make every effort to achieve a major transformation into a world-class research-oriented university capable of advancing R&D in cutting-edge fields for the university, the region, and the nation.”