# Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology

Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST; Korean: 대구경북과학기술원) is a public science and engineering university located on Daegu Technopolis, Daegu, South Korea. DGIST is one of the four public universities in South Korea dedicated to research in science and technology, along with KAIST, GIST, and UNIST. Under the Special Act on Support of Scientists and Engineers for Strengthening National Science and Technology Competitiveness, the Korean government enacted the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology Act (Act No. 6996) and founded DGIST in 2004 as a research institute. In 2008, the act was amended to extend the role of the institute to both research and education, which eventually enabled a transition from research institute to university for DGIST.

## History

In 2004, the Korean Government established DGIST as a research institute to promote national science and technology. It located the institute in Daegu to invigorate the local economy. The government amended DGIST Act in 2008, enabling the institute to offer educational (degree) programs.
Kyu-Suk Chung, the first president of the institute, was appointed in 2004 when it was still a research institute. The second president was In Seon Lee, who appointed in 2007. Dr. Sang Hyuk Son served as the third president starting in 2017. Dr. Young Kuk, was appointed in 2019.
Dec 11, 2003 || Enacted DGIST Act (Act No. 6996,) which created the legal basis for the establishment of DGIST
Sep 03, 2004 || First President Kyu-Suk Chung was Inaugurated (research institute)
Sep 07, 2004 || Registered the Establishment of DGIST as a research institute
Sep 03, 2007 || Second President In-Seon Lee was Inaugurated (research institute)
Jun 13, 2008 || Amended the DGIST Act (Act No. 9108) to allow DGIST to offer its educational (degree) programs
May 8, 2009 || DGIST Vision & University Identity Proclamation Ceremony
Nov 22, 2010 || Moved Campus to Current Site in Hyeonpung
Feb 25, 2011 || Dr. Sung-Chul Shin was inaugurated as founding president of university
Dec 14, 2011 || Established the Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), affiliated institute of DGIST
Jul 16, 2012 || Established the DGIST-Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Joint Research Center
Oct 08, 2012 || Established the Center for Plant Aging-Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)
Oct 30, 2012 || Established the Cyber Physical Systems Global Center
Feb 26, 2015 || Dr. Sung-Chul Shin was inaugurated as the Second President of university
Apr 01, 2015 || Established DGIST Convergence Research Institute
Apr 19, 2016 || Established Core Protein Resources Center
Oct 19, 2016 || Established Well Aging Research Center
Mar 22, 2017 || Dr. Sang Hyuk Son was inaugurated as the third president of university
Apr 01, 2019 || Dr. Young Kuk was inaugurated as the fourth president of university
Dec 01, 2023 || Dr. Kunwoo Lee was inaugurated as the fifth president of university

## Academics
### Undergraduate Program

The School of Undergraduate Studies was opened in 2014 under the College of Transdisciplinary Studies.

### Graduate Program

The Graduate School has been offering Master's and Doctoral Degree Programs, including integrated MS-PhD programs.
   * Department of Emerging Materials Science
       Quantum materials, nano/bio materials, computational materials
   * Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
       Cyber Physical Systems (CPS), bio-medical systems, smart connected systems
   * Department of Robotics Engineering
       Surgical robot, rehabilitation and life support robots, bio micro-nano robot, BRI, robot design, service robots
   * Department of Energy Science & Engineering
       Renewable energy, energy conversion and storage, materials design
   * Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences
       Neuro-metabolism, sensory system, neuro-degeneration, theoretical biophysics
   * Department of New Biology
       Aging biology, nano-bio imaging, systems and complex biology, bio-sustainability, biochemistry and biophysics

## Research
### DGIST Convergence Research Institute

   * DGIST-LBNL Research Center for Emerging Materials
   * Research Center for Resilient Cyber Physical Systems
   * Convergence Research Center for Microlaser Technology
   * DGIST-ETH Microrobot Research Center
   * Core Protein Resources Center
   * Well Aging Research Center
   * Global Center for Bio-Convergence Spin System
   * Brain Engineering Convergence Research Center
   * Magnetics Initiative Life Care Research Center
   * Research Center for Extreme Exploitation of Dark Data
   * Center for Proteome Biophysics
   * Research Center for Thin Film Solar Cells
    ICT Research Institute
   * Division of Electronics & Information System
   * Division of Automative Technology
   * Division of Intelligent Robot
    Materials Research Institute
   * Division of Energy Technology
   * Division of Nanotechnology
   * Division of Biotechnology

### Research infrastructure

In addition to the DGIST Convergence Research Institute, DGIST has infrastructure to support and facilitate research.
    Center for Technology Commercialization
   * Tech Startup Promotion Team
   * Technology Commercialization Team
    Center for Technology Startup Education
   * Technology Startup Education Team

## People

DGIST had 2,119 total members as of April 2019. Those include 1,486 of students enrolled for the 2019 school year (807 Undergraduates, 375 Master's program students, 177 Ph.D. program students, 75 Integrated MS-PhD Program students and 52 Combined Undergraduate-Graduate Program). They also include 207 faculty, 205 researchers, and 221 of administrative staff working at DGIST.

## Presidents

* Chung Kyu-Suk (2004–2007) 1st president of DGIST research institute
* Lee In-Seon (ko) (2007–2011) 2nd president of DGIST research institute
* Shin Sung-chul (2011–2017) 1st and 2nd president of DGIST University
* Son Sang Hyuk (2017–2018) 3rd president of DGIST University
* Kuk Young (2019–2023) 4th president of DGIST University
* Lee Kun Woo (이건우) (2023–current) 5th president of DGIST University