South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said it held an opening ceremony on Aug. 12 for the AI-SW Maestro Busan centre, a hub for training AI and software (SW) talent in the southeast.

AI-SW Maestro is a hands-on programme to train AI and software talent that began in 2010. It has produced 2,096 trainees and 149 startups so far.

The ministry set up the Busan centre this year to expand education infrastructure that had been concentrated in the capital region and to support AI transformation (AX) in the southeast's industries.

A total of 919 people applied for the Busan centre's trainee intake, for a competition ratio of 6.1 to 1. After a coding test and in-depth interviews, 150 were selected.

The trainees completed project planning and team formation over the past 2 months in a preliminary training course. They are set to receive expert mentoring through December and develop AI and software projects at an actual service level.

Nam Cheol-gi (남철기), director general for software policy at the ministry, said it was significant that top-level AI and software education infrastructure concentrated in the capital region had been spread to other areas. He said the ministry would support trainees so they can grow into key talent for the AI industry.