Self-Reliance in Materials, Parts, and Equipment... Accelerating 탈Ilbon (?일본) Strategy

The 3rd Special Committee on Materials, Parts, and Equipment Technology Held
Setting the 2021 Materials, Parts, and Equipment R&D Investment Direction

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced on the 16th that it held the 3rd Special Committee on Materials, Parts, and Equipment Technology and reviewed the basic direction of next year's research and development (R&D) budget. The plan is to focus on fostering the materials, parts, and equipment industry, which forms the foundation for technological independence, and reducing dependence on Japan.

At this committee meeting, short- and mid-to-long-term customized support strategies to enhance domestic competitiveness in the materials, parts, and equipment sector, as well as industry-academia-research R&D cooperation systems, were discussed.

In particular, investment directions in new materials were addressed to secure priority support areas by field such as semiconductors and displays, and to lead the BIG 3 sectors (system semiconductors, biohealth materials, and core parts for future vehicles). MSIT plans to allocate and adjust the 2021 government R&D budget for materials, parts, and equipment in June this year based on the '2021 Materials, Parts, and Equipment Investment Direction.'

Additionally, the committee discussed reviewing the achievements and current status of workforce training by each ministry following the expansion of R&D investment in the materials, parts, and equipment sectors.

Professor Kim Sang-sik of Korea University, the private chairman of the Materials, Parts, and Equipment Technology Special Committee, said, "Although the global supply chain is threatened due to the impact of COVID-19, our academia, research, and industry sectors can overcome this by working together." He added, "The committee will play a role in jointly considering strategic investment directions for the R&D budget and establishing research infrastructure that enables collaboration among industry, academia, and research."

Kim Sung-soo, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, stated, "The Innovation Headquarters will encourage the smooth progress of 35 materials, parts, and equipment R&D projects being promoted by related ministries, and will continuously monitor to ensure that new projects are quickly established in the field and benefit the industry."