The Ministry of Science and ICT of South Korea has announced that it will supply 4,000 graphic processing units (GPUs) from a total of 10,000 units secured through an additional budget last year. This initiative aims to enhance the nation's artificial intelligence competitiveness and develop an innovative ecosystem by starting the distribution of GPUs in March. The selection process for the recipients was conducted through an expert evaluation that assessed the technological and societal impact, contribution to the AI ecosystem, and the capabilities and readiness of the applicants, ensuring a balanced distribution across the fields of academia, industry, and research.

A total of 514 project proposals were submitted for this GPU supply initiative, out of which 159 projects were selected to receive a total of 4,224 GPUs, distributed as follows: 2,624 for academia, 1,288 for industry, and 312 for research institutions. However, this allocation has faced criticism for being skewed towards academia. The ministry clarified that the selection rates were relatively similar across sectors, with approximately 30% each for academia and industry, and a slightly higher 39% for research, indicating that the higher demand from academia led to a greater supply in that sector.

Looking ahead, the Ministry of Science and ICT has announced plans for an additional supply call in March, with a goal to increase support for the industry. The upcoming additional call will provide an estimated 4,000 GPUs to industry and 1,000 to academia and research sectors, demonstrating the ministry's intention to bolster support for small and startup businesses in the GPU supply framework, aiming for a more equitable distribution among all sectors involved in technology and research.