Dr. Jae-Pyoung Ahn, the long-time Head of the Advanced Analysis Center, was recently appointed Director of the newly founded Research Resources Division, which consists of five centers: the Doping Control Center, Advanced Analysis Center, Technology Support Center, Research Animal Resources Center, and Micro Nano Fab Center. Together, they are responsible for managing KIST’s research resources and providing broad support across its 30 centers.

Future Direction of KIST’s New Research Resources and Data Support Centers

To synergize the centers which were combined as a result of the organizational restructuring, professionalism must first be established. The centers can synergistically function only when it is comprised of individuals who specialize in their given roles. Thus, maximizing the professionalism of the various experts within the centers should be the highest priority. Next, we must look for a model that maximizes the connectivity between the centers within the division. We will examine how each of these centers are interconnected in handling tasks, and develop successful cases into a representative model. Once professionalism and connectivity are established within and between the centers, the Research Resources and Data Support Centers should ultimately work toward providing “creative support.” The process through which a researcher requests an analysis at the centers is analogous to how photographers take pictures. If photographers are asked to simply take pictures, they may do so using expensive cameras and assistive equipment. However, if they are requested to take pictures as artists, they may constantly suggest different poses and use their talents to take more expressive pictures. Like flexible photographers, the Research Resources and Data Support centers must actively make suggestions to researchers. Similar to how clients are unfamiliar with photographic techniques and equipment, researchers, too, do not fully understand how to improve their analyses. If those in charge of analyses do not come up with creative ideas and deliver them, researchers cannot realize their ideas. Ultimately, KIST must provide tailored technical and resource support to its researchers. It has been some time now since R&D began to utilize computers, and this has led to rapid advances in simulations and AI. Now, with enough data, AI makes predictions and interpretations at speeds humans can no longer keep up with. Data-based R&D needs the following. First, a platform that can store research data produced at KIST, along with their structured metadata. Therefore, developing a system to collect data in a structured format that can be utilized by researchers within KIST will be the first step toward data-dirven R&D. We are introducing a system that can convert unstructured R&D data into structured R&D data by upgrading the already developed KiRI note. The second step is an AI model that can discover new concepts within the data. For humans, the more the available data, the longer it takes to understand the data, but this is not true for AI models. It is only a matter of time before AI replaces humans in data analysis. But to develop such models, AI and data experts, as well as researchers, must be deeply involved in designing algorithms.

To KIST’s Researchers

My wish for the researchers at KIST’s Research Resources and Data Support Centers is that every one should become the best in their own fields. Since our centers play a crucial role in KIST becoming a world-renowned research institute, I would like all of you to maintain the professionalism needed to achieve the best performance. I would also like you all to not forget that the Research Resources and Data Support centers boasts the best competencies and technologies within South Korea, and is internationally competitive as well. Many researchers fail to fully utilize the various resources provided by our centers because they are busy, in a hurry, or are unfamiliar with them. While I understand that research cultures are something that cannot change immediately, smoother communication between researchers and resource providers will rapidly increase research productivity. I hope that all of you can engage in greater communication and cooperation in the future.

Once professionalism and connectivity are established within and between the centers, the Research Resources Division should ultimately work toward providing “creative support.”