Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
한국과학기술원

South Korea

KAIST has connotations of academic excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship, but also the launch of large-scale projects. The university often ranks highly among other universities of a similar age.

KAIST was established in February 1971 as Korea Advanced Institute of Science, with a loan given by United States Agency for International Development. The university aimed not only to educate young researchers in science and engineering, but also to provide a solid basis for the development of future higher education institutions in Korea.

Its structure was created by an international team, which included the American electrical engineer and vice-president of Stanford University Frederick Emmons Terman. Unlike other public institutions in South Korea, KAIST has freedom to decide upon its entry requirements and course structure, which gives the university a special status.

Today, KAIST has a rich academic portfolio in disciplines such as physics, mathematics, engineering, humanities and social sciences, business and management. The courses are delivered by 5 colleges and 6 schools, with over 33 divisions. KAIST's unique institutes include the National NanoFab Center, which conducts research into nano-devices and their potential applications.

KAIST consists of 2 major campuses situated in Daejeon and South Korea's capital Seoul. They offer over 25 dormitories, 4 libraries and a medical centre. To ensure students are actively engaged in the campus cultural events, the university organises traditional opera and jazz recitals.

1 March 2017 - 28 February 2018

Region: Global
Subject/journal group: All

The table to the right includes counts of all research outputs for Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) published between 1 March 2017 - 28 February 2018 which are tracked by the Nature Index.

Hover over the donut graph to view the WFC output for each subject. Below, the same research outputs are grouped by subject. Click on the subject to drill-down into a list of articles organized by journal, and then by title.

Note: Articles may be assigned to more than one subject area.

AC	FC	WFC
285	120.29	115.93

Outputs by subject (WFC)

Subject	AC	FC	WFC
Physical Sciences	173	63.38	59.03
Chemistry	125	63.33	63.33
Life Sciences	39	17.18	17.18

Highlight of the month

Flipping the superconductivity switch

© ROBERT BROOK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty

Scientists have developed a new technique for turning superconductivity on and off, paving the way for new electronic and magnetic devices, according to a study published in Physical Review Letters.

Below certain temperatures iron-based superconductors can conduct electricity with virtually zero resistance, and exhibit superconducting and magnetic behaviours at the same time. Scientists, however, still lack detailed understanding of the complex atomic-level properties that underlie this behaviour.

Led by researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, a team of physicists from South Korea and the United States have used a spin-polarized scanning tunnelling microscope to pass a metal tip just a few atoms wide over the surface of an iron-based superconductor, allowing them to probe its magnetic and electronic properties to be turned on and off.

The work could lead to new memory devices and transistors that can control superconductivity.

Supported content