On March 19, an official visit aimed at strengthening Korea–U.S. cooperation in the drone industry was held in the main conference room on the second floor of the university’s main building.

This event was organized as part of the Korea–U.S. International Cooperation Forum jointly promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Korea and the State of North Dakota. Participants discussed ways to expand global joint research initiatives and strengthen collaboration among academia, industry, and research institutions.

Through this visit, the university has taken on the role of a Korean partner in the R&D sector, with discussions focusing on potential directions for future joint research.

The event was attended by representatives from the Government of North Dakota and the University of North Dakota, along with key figures from academia, industry, and research communities in both countries. From the university, the Director of the Office of International Affairs, faculty members from the Departments of Aerospace Engineering, Air Transportation, Artificial Intelligence, and Computer Science, as well as Distinguished Professor Jin-Sang Lee, participated and shared perspectives on interdisciplinary collaboration.

Participants exchanged views on cooperation across the broader aerospace sector, including drones. There was a shared understanding of the need to establish a collaborative framework based on each country’s strengths. Various forms of cooperation were discussed, including joint research, technology partnerships, and personnel exchange.

Building on these discussions, the university plans to explore participation in joint research and technological collaboration, leveraging its accumulated research experience and strong industry–academia cooperation capabilities in the aerospace field. It will also examine potential alignment with Korea’s national policies on drones and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Kim Sang-woo, Director of the Office of International Affairs, stated, “This visit was a meaningful opportunity to confirm the potential for Korea–U.S. cooperation and to lay the groundwork for future joint research. Based on our university’s strengths in research and education across the entire aerospace field, we will actively expand collaboration with various international institutions.”