[Digital Today reporter Jin-ho Lee] The National Information Society Agency (NIA) said on Feb. 23 it recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to strengthen global cooperation on artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

The agreement was pursued to build a strategic partnership that combines NIA’s policy and technical expertise in AI and digital fields with KOICA’s development cooperation platform, including its global network. KOICA recently established an AX organisation and is preparing in earnest for AI official development assistance (ODA).

Under the agreement, the two agencies decided to focus on cooperation in technical advice in AI and digital fields, integrated planning and identification of grant aid projects for developing countries and improving performance, global ICT exchanges and sharing networks, and sharing information on domestic AI technology and market trends.

Based on the agreement, NIA plans to actively support AI and digital transformation in developing countries, including jointly planning ODA projects strengthened with AI and data, and to take the lead in helping domestic companies expand overseas.

An NIA official said, "Based on the cooperation accumulated between the two agencies, we will open a new horizon for 'K-AI ODA' that integrates locally tailored AI policy and technology."