Seoul National University (SNU) has been chosen to lead two new projects as part of the Seoul regional innovation support system called RISE for the year 2026, focusing on AI-related academic support and the Seoul-style BRIDGE project. This follows SNU's previous recognition as the leading university for three projects under the 2025 RISE initiative, establishing its status as a key partner in Seoul's innovation policies. The selection underscores SNU's continuous involvement and influence in shaping educational and technological advancements in the region.

With this new selection, SNU is set to receive an annual budget of approximately 3.675 billion won, allowing it to operate a total of six unit projects. The overall scale of the Seoul RISE initiative is expected to exceed 16 billion won over the next five years. The chariman of SNU, Won Yong-geol, expressed pride in the institution's recognition as a core partner of the RISE initiative and aims to create a new model of a prestigious university integrated with urban science and AI.

SNU aims to work closely with the Seoul government, the Seoul RISE Center, participating institutions, and industry partners to foster a collaborative ecosystem that promotes sustainable growth in Seoul. The leaders of the RISE initiative at SNU emphasized their commitment to responding proactively to technological changes and their responsibility as a public institution to contribute to sustainable development in the city through enhanced AI-based industry-academic cooperation.