National Information Society Agency (NIA) and the Ministry of Science and ICT said on July 24 they held a launch briefing for "Net Challenge Camp Season 13" on July 23 and will begin full project work.

Net Challenge Camp is a talent development programme that uses KOREN, a domestic research testbed network, to discover university students' AI and network technology and service ideas and support validation in an actual research testbed environment.

In this year's competition, 18 teams made up of university students nationwide were selected. The teams will take part for about 3 months in expert mentoring, KOREN-based technical support and hackathons to refine ideas and carry out prototype development and demonstration.

The teams presented project plans and development directions at the launch briefing. They also shared ideas by field, including AI-based network services, network security, wireless networks, next-generation networks, network-utilisation services and international networks.

Organisers also provided guidance on how to use KOREN, the programme's operating plan and the schedule ahead. The "KHU(KHU)reka" team, which won the science ministry minister's award last year, introduced its project process and award experience and held a question-and-answer session with participants.

NIA plans to support participants so they can freely test and verify new technologies in an ultra-high-speed research testbed network environment.

Kim Hyeong-cheol (김형철), president of NIA, said, "Net Challenge Camp is an opportunity for students' creative ideas to be verified and developed in an actual research testbed environment." He added, "We will continue to create an environment in which future digital talent can freely take on challenges and grow based on KOREN."