Workshop brings together experts to discuss convergence of national research networks, data and security technologies

Participants pose for a group photo at the 2026 NNNetFraST Workshop. [KISTI]
Participants pose for a group photo at the 2026 NNNetFraST Workshop. [KISTI]

Efforts are now underway to integrate the supercomputers, high-speed networks, quantum communications and cybersecurity technologies that will determine South Korea's research competitiveness in the AI era.

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information announced Thursday that it is hosting the 2026 NNNetFraST Workshop at the Interbulgo EXCO Hotel in Daegu from Wednesday through Friday.

Now in its second year, the workshop is themed "Beyond Connection, Opening the AX Future Together" and will examine the technological convergence and development of national strategic research infrastructure — including next-generation networks, cybersecurity, quantum communications and data computing.

Participants include experts and practitioners from industry, academia, research institutions and government, drawn from member organizations of the Korea Research Environment Open NETwork (KREONET), the Science and Technology Information Security Council, the quantum communications research community and large-scale data hub centers.

A central topic will be how to organically link Hana — the sixth national supercomputer, which held its inauguration ceremony on Nov. 2 — with the high-speed research network and data infrastructure. As AI-driven science and technology research expands, the need for an integrated research environment capable of rapidly transmitting and securely processing large volumes of data has grown increasingly urgent.

The event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, specialized tracks by field and community sessions to share key research findings. Infrastructure operators and field researchers will participate directly to discuss technical challenges and improvements, and to explore service innovation tailored to the needs of the research community.

KISTI's Network Future Technology Research Division is developing core technologies including a next-generation integrated wired and wireless communications network and AI-based intelligent cybersecurity systems. The institute plans to use these advances to accelerate the AI transformation, or AX, of national research infrastructure.

Song Jung-seok, head of KISTI's Network Future Technology Research Division, said the workshop "will serve as a launchpad for opening the AX future through the practical integration of national strategic infrastructure, services and technologies," adding that the institute would "identify challenges that industry, academia, research institutions and government must tackle together and expand cross-sector collaboration."

KISTI President Lee Sik said, "Research competitiveness in the AI era depends on how organically we connect and utilize core research infrastructure — networks, data and computing," and expressed hope that the workshop would "serve as an opportunity to support national science and technology innovation."


nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com