Multidisciplinary Materials Research in KAIST Over the Last 50 Years

DOI: 10.1002/adma.202000696 2010 to 2019, KAIST authors have published 202 articles in Advanced Materials including the authors of this special issue, which is roughly 20 articles per year on average as shown in Figure 2. For recent examples of Advanced Materials publications by this issue authors, Prof. Keon Jae Lee has reported research results on thin-film PZT nanogenerators (NGs), laser–material interactions, micro-light-emitting diodes, and self-powered acoustic sensors.[1–8] Prof. Sang Ouk Kim has published papers on graphene oxide liquid crystals, nanoparticles, and vertical carbon nanotubes (CNTs).[9–15] Prof. Yeon Sik Jung has developed heterojunction quantum-dot solar cell and plasmonic nanoarchitectures.[16–18] Prof. Byeong-Soo Bae has published on chitin nanofiber transparent paper and flexible hard coatings for foldable displays.[19,20] Prof. Hee-Tae Jung has reported metal nanostructures, an artificial mechanotransducer skin, and an ionic chemiresistor skin.[21–25] Prof. Haeshin Lee has also demonstrated biological materials, and a DNA–polysaccharide binder.[26,27] Prof. Insung S. Choi has published papers on nanofilm formation, cell-in-shell structures, and iron gall ink.[28–30] This special issue introduces 17 articles, with major attention paid to the fields of flexible electronics, nanomaterials, This KAIST special issue commemorating the semi-centennial anniversary as of February 2021, guest edited by Prof. Sang Ouk Kim and Prof. Keon Jae Lee, features the most innovative multidisciplinary research activities including materials science and engineering at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). KAIST is the first and top science and technology university in South Korea (Figure 1). KAIST opened in 1971 with a special legislative mandate from the Korean government. The government mandated two founding missions to KAIST: to educate scientists and engineers who would work for the nation’s industrialization and to make innovations conducting basic and applied research that would drive the nation’s economic growth. Since then, KAIST has been the gateway to advanced technology, entrepreneurship and innovation. Our 62 000 graduates, including 12 400 Ph.D. candidates, have been key players behind Korea’s innovations and global companies. In less than half a century, KAIST has emerged as the most innovative university in the Asia–Pacific region with 12 000 students enrolled in five colleges and six schools, including 1000 international students from 92 countries. KAIST has a total of 638 full-time professors, including 32 in materials science and engineering (MSE), 28 in chemical & biomolecular engineering (CBE), and 88 in electrical engineering (EE). In addition, the research fund of KAIST has reached about US$ 291 million (US$ 221 million of government funds, and US$ 70 million of nongovernmental funds), balancing academic research and industrial cooperation. In 2018, Thomson Reuters ranked KAIST the 11th World’s Most Innovative University and the Most Innovative University in the Asian region. The 2018 QS World University Rankings ranked KAIST 40th overall in the world and 13th in materials sciences. In addition, the Nature Index named KAIST the 4th Top Young University in the world in 2019. KAIST now has the opportunity to think boldly about what it can achieve over the next half century and beyond. Under Vision 2031, KAIST continues to strive to make the world better through the pursuit of excellence in education, research, entrepreneurship, and globalization. The field of materials science and nanoscience is the most rigorous one at KAIST. In the past ten years from