Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with US-based Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system and a world-class research-oriented hospital, and the biotech firm Moderna.

Through the MoU with Mass General, KAIST will explore cooperation with an innovative ecosystem created through the convergence of medicine and engineering. In particular, KAIST’s goal is to develop a Korean-style training programme and implement a differentiated educational programme when establishing the science and technology-oriented medical school in the future by further strengthening the science and engineering part of the training including a curriculum on artificial intelligence (AI) and the likes there of.

Also, in order to foster innovative physician-scientists, KAIST plans to pursue cooperation to develop programmes for exchange of academic and human resources including programmes for student and research exchanges and a programme for students of the science and technology-oriented medical school at KAIST to have a chance to take part in practical training at Mass General.

The MoU between KAIST and Moderna will focus to foster medical experts in cooperation with KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering (GSMSE), and plans to cooperate in various ways in the future, including collaborating for development of vaccine and new drugs, virus research, joint mRNA research, and facilitation of technology commercialisation.