South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT on Aug. 25 held an opening ceremony for the Incheon ICT Complex at the Korea Teachers' Credit Union's Incheon Hall.

The ICT Complex is a facility to train practical AI and software (SW) talent needed by regional industries and to support companies' AI transformation (AX). The ministry has operated ICT Complexes since 2018 across five regions nationwide, including Seoul, Busan, Pohang, Gwangju and Cheongju. Each hub offers training using new digital technologies and education programs in cooperation with domestic and foreign big tech companies such as Google, Amazon and Naver.

The Incheon ICT Complex will lend equipment and servers needed for AI and SW development and testing to university students, employed workers and job seekers. It will also run job and start-up support programs such as education, community spaces and networking events. It will provide AI and SW training by level, from basic to advanced courses.

Separate from the ICT Complex, the ministry will also operate 2 training sites in Incheon's Michuhol and Songdo areas. It plans to identify and run AI and SW education and company-linked projects for young people including university students in the Incheon area.

Nam Cheol-gi (남철기), director general for software policy at the ministry, said he hopes the Incheon ICT Complex will establish itself as a hub to promote regional digital innovation. He said the ministry will actively support it so it can serve as a catalyst for training core AI and SW talent needed by local industries and supporting local companies' AX transformation.