Naver Cloud is teaming up with NVIDIA to develop a sovereign AI ecosystem, with an initial focus on Southeast Asian markets. The partnership was announced by Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yoo-won at NVIDIA’s GTC 2025 conference in San Jose on March 20.
The collaboration, which has been in development since last year, centers on creating AI systems that remain under national control to ensure data sovereignty and regulatory compliance. This approach addresses growing concerns from governments and organizations seeking to maintain autonomy over their digital infrastructure.
During the conference, Kim showcased Naver’s HyperCLOVA X, a large language model specifically designed for non-English languages. Kim cited the need for “independent AI capabilities and sovereign AI” to address country-specific challenges.
The partnership extends beyond technology development to ecosystem building, with Naver pledging support for related companies and countries adopting these systems.
Southeast Asia represents a strategic priority due to its rapid growth and diverse technological requirements. Naver expects to deliver tangible results in the region by year-end.
The alliance combines NVIDIA’s hardware expertise with Naver’s software capabilities, potentially expanding their AI solutions beyond Southeast Asia as sovereign AI gains traction globally.
