T1, the South Korean esports organisation, has entered into a business agreement with the Republic of Korea Navy’s Naval Force Analysis, Test and Evaluation Group to strengthen cooperation in preparation for future digital operational environments.

The partnership, formalised during a signing ceremony at T1’s headquarters in Seoul, aims to enhance the Navy’s capabilities in cognitive processing, command and control, and analytical modelling and simulation (M&S). By integrating creative technologies and data from the esports and gaming sectors, both parties seek mutual development in responding to digital warfare challenges.

According to outlet The Korea Bizwire, the two institutions will collaborate across several key areas. These include activating gaming functionalities within the Navy’s M&S models, researching methods to apply the creative tactics of professional esports teams to naval tactical development, and conducting joint research into game data-based tactical analysis and advancement. The partnership will also involve the co-hosting of academic conferences and seminars to facilitate ongoing exchange.

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T1’s Chief Operating Officer, Ahn Woong-gi, emphasised the broader strategic implications of the alliance. “Through this agreement, we anticipate that the soft power of esports will converge with the hard power of the Navy, evolving into a national-level smart power,” Ahn stated. He added that T1 plans to continuously expand its cooperation with the Navy, actively supporting the enhancement of digital and cyber capabilities.

Commander Kim Hyung-jun of the Naval Force Analysis, Test and Evaluation Group noted the potential for deepened collaboration. “Through this business agreement with T1, we expect cooperation between both institutions in the fields of M&S and data analysis to be further strengthened,” Kim said. He described the partnership as an opportunity to solidify the foundation for the Navy’s future force development.

T1 indicated that it intends to leverage the strategic thinking, data analysis, and simulation capabilities cultivated within the esports and gaming industries, extending their application into public and defence sectors to build a forward-looking cooperative model.

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