To lead future advanced defense technologies and dramatically enhance national security competitiveness, JBNU and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the cradle of South Korea's defense science and technology (Director Lee Geon‑wan), have joined hands.

JBNU announced that on April 15 at 2:30 p.m. at the Agency for Defense Development, President Yang O‑bong and Director Lee Geon‑wan, along with key officials from both institutions, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for research cooperation in advanced defense science and technology and the cultivation of outstanding professionals, and launched full-scale cooperation.

The agreement was pursued to strengthen academic–research collaboration and further enhance the nation's defense science and technology competitiveness in order to respond to rapidly changing future battlefield and global security environments centered on AI and advanced technologies.

Under the agreement, the two institutions plan to intensify cooperation to promote R&D in defense science and technology and to train specialized personnel based on mutual trust.

In particular, they agreed to establish a practical and sustained cooperation framework by promoting joint research in core defense technology areas, jointly utilizing academic information and educational and research facilities (including equipment), and activating personnel exchanges among faculty, researchers, and staff. Specific collaborative projects will be pursued step by step through separate consultations in the future.

The Agency for Defense Development is the country's sole defense R&D organization that researches and develops weapon systems and core technologies required by the military. Through close academic–research cooperation, it has fostered a creative and challenging research ecosystem. Building on this agreement, the two institutions will expand cooperation in areas such as advanced weapon systems, AI-based defense technologies, unmanned and autonomous systems, testing and evaluation, and new defense materials.

President Yang O‑bong said, "This agreement is not merely an exchange between institutions; it is a great starting point for strategic cooperation to jointly design the blueprint for future defense science and technology and cultivate core talent with global competitiveness," and added, "Going forward, JBNU will make a brilliant leap as a genuine core hub of defense research and education that robustly supports national security and the development of advanced strategic industries."