Yoo Min-sang, Autonomous a2z CSO, Seeks Future Cooperation in Southeast Asia and Middle East

Autonomous a2z (hereinafter a2z), a leader in autonomous driving technology, announced that its CSO Yoo Min-sang participated in the '2025 KF Global Fellow' program of the Korea Foundation (KF) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, laying the groundwork for future cooperation in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. During this journey spanning UAE, Vietnam, and Singapore from April 4th to 13th, CSO Yoo Min-sang met with science and technology experts from each country to engage in in-depth discussions for the globalization of autonomous driving technology. The program was accompanied by 10 key experts in the domestic science and technology field under the age of 40, including CSO Yoo Min-sang, and prominent mentors such as Kim Won-soo, Director of the Kyung Hee University Institute for Future Civilizations (former UN Under-Secretary-General), participated, adding depth to the exchange. In particular, the visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was a key part of the schedule. CSO Yoo's delegation had a special exchange with selected participants of the UAE government's next-generation leader development program, the 'National Experts Program (NEP)', seeking to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. At this meeting, extensive conversations took place regarding the future directions pursued by both countries, including technology-based sustainability, future energy, talent circulation, and policy exchange models. Notably, Khalid Al Nakbi, Vice President of Space42 (formerly Bayanat), which is promoting the establishment of 'A2D', a joint venture between a2z and G42, the UAE's largest AI company, attended as an NEP selected expert, drawing attention. CSO Yoo Min-sang and VP Al Nakbi reconfirmed their cooperation for building a future mobility ecosystem in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region based in the UAE, and strengthened their partnership by promising continuous exchange. They also visited major technology institutions in the UAE, such as the Abu Dhabi Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), to learn about local technological levels and policy directions. Subsequently, they visited Vietnam and Singapore, meeting with key institutions such as the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and AI Singapore. They closely examined each country's basic and applied science policies, R&D programs, and technology adoption sites, focusing on exploring diverse cooperation measures, including AI technology essential for autonomous driving and the establishment of related policies. Director Kim Won-soo, who accompanied them as a mentor, emphasized the significance of this exchange, stating, "To solve global issues such as the climate crisis and AI transformation, solidarity among next-generation leaders transcending borders is crucial." CSO Yoo Min-sang shared his thoughts on this experience, saying, "It was a very meaningful time to be able to interact with excellent young experts in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, regions where a2z is focusing its efforts." He expressed his strong commitment, stating, "I will continue to communicate with the global experts I met to contribute to the global expansion of South Korea's autonomous driving technology and do my best to achieve meaningful and tangible results through this." This KF Global Fellow program is expected to serve as an important stepping stone for a2z's expansion into the global market.