InnoCORE Returns in 2026 with Expanded Global Postdoctoral Job Fair

Connecting top science and technology talent with Korea’s premier research hubs — KAIST, GIST, DGIST, and UNIST

As a global leader in science and technology, Korea invites outstanding postdoctoral researchers (Post-docs) to co-design the future of strategic technologies at the forefront of S&T

NEW YORK, BOSTON & SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) will host the 2026 InnoCORE Global Postdoctoral Job Fair in New York, Boston, and Silicon Valley throughout April and May. Building on the success of its inaugural 2025 events, the fair is organized in collaboration with KAIST, GIST, DGIST, and UNIST. This premier recruitment series aims to connect outstanding postdoctoral researchers with leading research opportunities in Korea.

The InnoCORE Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, launched in 2025, is a government-backed initiative to recruit outstanding early-career researchers in AI-convergent science and technology (AI+S&T). Following a strong reception in 2025—with over 100 postdoctoral researchers interviewed across three U.S. cities—the program is being significantly expanded in 2026, scaling up from an initial cohort of 400 to approximately 1,000 postdoctoral researchers. This year’s job fair series aims to strengthen Korea’s global talent pipeline and deepen partnerships with leading academic and research institutions worldwide.

Building on 2025: Key Milestones

Since its launch in June 2025, the InnoCORE program has made significant strides in establishing Korea as a competitive destination for global research talent. Through overseas job fairs and recruitment campaigns led by the four institutes, 400 postdoctoral researchers were selected in the program’s inaugural year. Each fellow receives an annual base salary of KRW 90 million (approx. USD 62,000) complemented by KRW 60 million in dedicated research funding. This compensation package is roughly double the average for postdoctoral researchers in Korea, reflecting the government’s commitment to attracting top-tier talent.

Looking ahead, the Korean government is significantly expanding the InnoCORE program in 2026. The recruitment scope has broadened from AI and AI-convergent fields to all National Strategic Technology domains, including semiconductors & displays, next-generation batteries, advanced mobility, nuclear energy, advanced bio, space & aerospace, hydrogen, cybersecurity, AI, next-generation communications, advanced robotics & manufacturing, and quantum technology. Furthermore, the program is being extended beyond the four institutes to include government-funded research institutions (GRIs) and universities.

2026 InnoCORE Global Job Fairs

The 2026 job fairs will be held across three major U.S. innovation hubs. Each event will feature InnoCORE program briefings, research cluster presentations, and on-site interviews conducted directly with Korean research group leaders.

New York	Boston	Silicon Valley
Thursday, April 30 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM	Saturday, May 2 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM	Tuesday, May 5 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
NYU-KAIST Global Innovation and Research Institute	The Link, Boston	KIC Silicon Valley

Program Details

Backed by a five-year government investment of approximately USD 465 million, the InnoCORE fellowship offers an annual base salary of USD 62,000, with additional compensation available through research and industry partnerships. Fellows receive full access to Korea’s cutting-edge research infrastructure—including supercomputing systems, semiconductor cleanrooms, and advanced biomedical research facilities. The program also features a multi-mentor system connecting researchers with leading experts from both academia and industry, domestically and internationally.

Research & Recruitment Areas

InnoCORE plans to recruit 400 postdoctoral researchers in total, with 25 positions available per research group across 16 interdisciplinary clusters. These opportunities span four of Korea’s premier science and technology institutes: KAIST, GIST, DGIST, and UNIST.

Institute	Research Group	Group Leader	Recruits
KAIST	Photonic artificial Intelligence COmputing REsearch Center	Kyoungsik Yu	25
	Regenerative Medical Research Institute (reMRI) for Aging-related Diseases	Jin Woo Kim	25
	T-RAX: Transformative Railway with AX	Hoon Sohn	25
	5D AI-RI: 5D AI Robotics Initiative	Hyun Myung	25
	Artificial Cell Initiative	Yeongjae Choi	25
	POwer-autonomous Subsea Engineering for Intelligent Data-center Operating Networks	Daegyoum Kim	25
	Sustainable Materials Institute for Post-AI Era	Sang Ouk Kim	25
	AI Meta-Scientist	Tae-Kyun Kim	25
GIST	POLAR-AI (Physical-AI Operated Locomotion and Autonomous Robotics in Extreme Environments)	Hyosung Ahn	25
	Innovative Global Network for Infectious disease Theranostics & Excellence (IGNITE@GIST InnoCORE)	Sung Yang	25
DGIST	Center for Energy Materials Commercialization through AI Transformation (AX) (E-MatAX)	Su-Mi Hur	25
	Multiscale Brain Digital Twin Convergence Research Group	Sohee Kim	25
UNIST	Semiconductor PAckaging Co-Physics DEsign Framework(SPACE-F)	Taesung Kim	25
	Bio-Max InnoCORE Research Center	Yong Hwan Kim	25
	Intelligent Defense Systems Research Group	Gangil Byun	25
	Safe AI Research Center	Seungjoon Yang	25
Total Recruitment			400

How to Apply

Applicants must hold a PhD in a STEM-related field or be scheduled to obtain their PhD degree by the confirmed appointment date. Detailed information regarding eligibility, specific research groups, and the application process is available on the official InnoCORE website: www.innocore-jobfair.com