On October 6, South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT revealed that the nation is set to embark on a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence model research and development initiative, with an investment of 4.7 trillion won (roughly equivalent to $3.5 billion), commencing in March 2027. This strategic move is aimed at establishing a formidable presence in the realm of advanced artificial intelligence. The ministry outlined that, following the National Assembly's approval of the 2027 budget in December, it intends to select the primary developer through a competitive public bidding process. The successful bidder could be unveiled as soon as February. The government will integrate national equity investments with private capital, channeling computing chips, data, and talent resources into this ambitious project. The initiative will be accessible to various entities, including individual enterprises, enterprise consortia, and special purpose vehicles. It is anticipated that startups, established enterprises, universities, and research institutions will take the helm in driving this project forward.