Naver Cloud has joined forces with Nvidia to develop a sovereign AI ecosystem tailored for the East Asian market. Announced at Nvidia’s GTC 2025 event in San Jose, California, the partnership aims to create a localized AI system, with concrete progress expected within the year. Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yoo-won unveiled the initiative during his keynote speech at the event’s Sovereign AI Summit on March 20.
The partnership between Naver Cloud and Nvidia has been in development since last year. Both companies align on the need for sovereign AI—AI systems developed and controlled within a specific country to ensure data security and regulatory compliance. As governments and businesses seek greater control over their digital ecosystems, this collaboration is expected to be key in shaping AI infrastructure across East Asia.
At the event, Kim introduced HyperCLOVA X, Naver’s advanced AI model specializing in non-English languages. He highlighted Naver’s comprehensive AI ecosystem: services, data, cloud, and high-performance computing. This end-to-end capability allows the company to customize AI solutions for different nations and industries, ensuring that AI technologies align with unique cultural and regulatory requirements.
Beyond technological development, Naver Cloud is also focused on real-world AI applications. Kim showcased “Clova CareCall,” an AI-driven healthcare assistant designed to support elderly individuals, and “Neurocloud,” a secure AI system tailored for sectors like banking and nuclear energy.
Kim further emphasized the importance of ecosystem collaboration, calling on companies like Nvidia to contribute to building a robust AI infrastructure. He stated that Naver Cloud will actively support businesses and governments in adopting sovereign AI.
Naver is focusing strongly on Southeast Asia due to the region’s rapid technological growth and diverse digital landscape. By joining forces with Nvidia, the company seeks to enhance AI capabilities beyond Southeast Asia. With plans to deliver tangible outcomes within the year, the partnership is expected to drive AI adoption across multiple industries.
