KIST Showcases Future Innovation Technologies at CES 2025

KIST (President: Sang Rok Oh) announced that it would be participating in CES 2025, the world’s largest IT trade show, held in Las Vegas, USA, from January 7 to 10. This marks KIST’s fifth time taking part in the expo, following appearances in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. At Eureka Park, a space dedicated to showcasing groundbreaking innovations, KIST unveiled seven cutting-edge technologies in the AI, semiconductor, quantum technology, and healthcare sectors, described in more detail below.

The Post-Silicon Semiconductor Institute’s Center for Quantum Technology presented a pioneering AI-based technology that converts 2D single X-ray images into 3D visualizations while enhancing image clarity even in challenging conditions such as inclement weather. Dr. Min-Chul Park, the Principal Researcher at KIST responsible for the development of this technology, received the CES 2025 Innovation Award in recognition of his technological prowess.

The AI & Robotics Institute showcased an AI-powered real-time traffic monitoring system, developed by Dr. Ig Jae Kim. The system analyzes vehicle tracking, counting, and speed estimation using only CCTV footage to help manage the traffic environment. In collaboration with TOPES, the technology is aimed to be integrated with smart traffic enforcement and intersection simulation for optimized urban mobility. The aim is to implement a system optimized for actual traffic situations by combining this technology with the forward/rear traffic control technology and smart intersection simulation technology of TOPES. In the future, this technology is likely to be developed into unmanned traffic control and intelligent traffic systems.

Principal Researcher Gi Pyo Nam from the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research has developed a biometric analysis system that evaluates a person’s internal and external physiological signals through facial recognition. With high accuracy and rapid processing speed, this technology has applications in law enforcement, healthcare, and smart home services.

Principal Researcher Heeseung Choi, also from the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research, introduced an AI-enabled kiosk that automatically verifies the identity of laboratory personnel and detects whether they are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to determine whether or not they may access the laboratory. This system enhances lab safety and is expected to become a key technology in research and industrial sites.

The Biomedical Research Division unveiled a Nano-Column CMUT-based wearable ultrasound patch, developed by Dr. Byung Chul Lee. Offering three times the performance of conventional ultrasound devices, this silicon-based patch is more environmentally friendly and can be used as a disposable product due to its low manufacturing cost. The patch is expected to expand into home telemedicine and various industrial applications.

The Center for Advanced Biomolecular Recognition introduced a urine-based bladder cancer detection kit developed by Dr. Youngdo Jeong. This technology enables non-invasive, rapid diagnosis of bladder cancer using only a smartphone and a urine sample, eliminating the need for preprocessing or specialized medical equipment. It is a simple system that can diagnose bladder cancer at an early stage with high sensitivity and can be used frequently while reducing pain and infection risk for patients.

And the Advanced Materials and Systems Research Division’s Electronic Materials Research Center presented an ultrasonic wireless charging system developed by Dr. Hyun-Cheol Song. This technology can wirelessly charge implanted medical devices, such as pacemakers, reducing the need for surgical battery replacements. It also holds potential for use in various industrial fields where long-distance wireless charging is required, such as underwater drones and sub-marine sensor networks.

Commenting on the event, KIST President Sang Rok Oh stated, "KIST is proud to present its advanced technologies and products from innovative startups supported by KIST at CES 2025. We are committed to fostering global partnerships to accelerate the transfer and commercialization of KIST technologies, both in Korea and internationally."