Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
한국과학기술원

South Korea

KAIST is the first and top science and technology university in Korea. In the wake of its 50th anniversary, KAIST is scaling up new research initiatives in order to become a ‘first mover.’ This is in line with its plan to pivot away from its previous role as a ‘fast follower,’ a role that led to Korea’s rapid industrialization.

Established in 1971 by the Korean government, KAIST was tasked with the very clear institutional mission to make innovations that would drive the country’s economic growth engine, especially in the fields of ICT and electronics. KAIST has fully achieved its institutional mission, creating a very successful educational model that is now being benchmarked by many other countries.

Turning 50 years old in 2021, its R&D strategy has shifted to focus on creating global value for the future. Among others, the Global Singularity Research Project aims to identify the most critical projects which will make the biggest difference in people’s lives.

This innovative research project selects the two most creative and future-oriented research projects every year. Young researchers’ projects on new materials, neuro-rehabilitation, and brain function redesign selected as this research program will surely bring breakthroughs which will serve as game changers for the future.

For more information on KAIST research, visit https://www.kaist.ac.kr/en/html/research/04.html

1 November 2019 - 31 October 2020

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 November 2019 - 31 October 2020 which are tracked by the Nature Index.

Hover over the donut graph to view the FC 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.

Count	Share
385	176.86

Outputs by subject (Share)

Subject	Count	Share
Physical Sciences	208	95.55
Chemistry	163	85.91
Life Sciences	85	26.01
Earth & Environmental Sciences	6	2.03

Highlight of the month

Anti-ageing protein discovered in worms

© KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty

A protein widely expressed in human tissues could hold the key to extending life.

Researchers in South Korea showed that they could lengthen or shorten the lifespan of nematode worms by altering the activity of a protein known as VRK-1. Humans also have this protein, and drugs that alter VRK-1 levels could promote longevity.

The team, co-led by scientists at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), found that worms that had been genetically engineered to have elevated VRK-1 activity lived longer, whereas genetic inhibition of VRK-1 had the opposite effect.

The researchers also detailed the molecular effects of VRK-1 expression. They showed in both worms and cultured human cells how the longevity-associated factor adds a chemical tag to another protein called AMPK. This in turn stimulates AMPK, a critical sensor of cellular energy with known anti-ageing properties.

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