Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology. Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST; ) 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, UST, 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 () (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 () (2023–current)  5th president of DGIST University

See also 
 List of national universities in South Korea
 List of universities and colleges in South Korea
 Education in Korea

References 

1. Official website of the university: DGIST
2. Article 'DGIST aims for spot among world-leading science universities': DGIST aims for spot among world-leading science universities

Universities and colleges in Daegu
National universities and colleges in South Korea
Technical universities and colleges