Kookmin University to lead national project on secure vehicle semiconductors

Kookmin University has been chosen as a key research and development institution for a significant national project focused on creating core intellectual property for secure semiconductors in future vehicles. The initiative, supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea, aims to bolster cybersecurity for Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs).

The project, titled "Development of Core IP for Automotive Semiconductors Overcoming Harsh Environments for SDV Response," will see Kookmin University develop technologies crucial for detecting intrusions, implementing quantum-resistant cryptography, and verifying random number generators. These advancements are vital as the automotive industry increasingly shifts towards SDVs, expanding the role of software and networks within vehicles and consequently heightening the risk of cyber threats like hacking and data manipulation.

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This project is a result of our convergent research capabilities in vehicle network security, chip-level security, and cryptography being recognized nationally.

Kookmin University is part of a consortium led by R.NIC, a specialized company in security and wireless communication semiconductors. Other members include Sungkyunkwan University, Ajou University, the Korea Automobile Research Institute, and Hyundai Mobis, with Hyundai Motor Company participating as the end-user. The project spans 4 years and 6 months, from July 2026 to December 2030, with a total budget of 10 billion won. Kookmin University will receive approximately 1.7 billion won for its research.

Professor Jeon Sang-hoon of Kookmin University's Automotive IT Convergence Department will lead the project. The university's research efforts will focus on developing a vertically integrated, multi-layer intrusion detection system (IDS) that analyzes both in-SoC (System on Chip) security events and in-vehicle network data. This novel approach aims to provide a more comprehensive detection of cyber threats compared to existing methods that analyze chip and network layers separately. Additionally, the university will work on optimizing and verifying NIST-standard quantum-resistant cryptography algorithms and developing evaluation technologies for true random number generators.

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We will contribute to enhancing national competitiveness in future mobility security technology by securing multi-layer IDS and quantum-resistant cryptography implementation and verification technologies validated in real vehicle environments by 2030.