Samsung Future Technology Development Program, 589 Projects Selected Since 2013
75.89 Billion KRW Research Funding Supported
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] Samsung Electronics announced on the 4th that it has selected 28 projects in the fields of basic science, materials, and ICT for the first half of this year and will support them with research funds of 38.85 billion KRW. Through the 'Samsung Future Technology Development Project,' Samsung Electronics has so far supported a total of 589 projects with 758.9 billion KRW in research funds, including 201 projects in basic science, 190 in materials, and 198 in ICT.
In this project, a total of 14 projects were selected in the basic science field, including 5 in life sciences, 4 in mathematical sciences, 3 in physics, and 2 in chemistry. With growing interest in health recently, 4 projects, accounting for 30% of the basic science research support projects, are related to health topics. Professor Kim Sung-yeon of the Department of Chemistry at Seoul National University is conducting research on the feeling of satiety people experience when eating food. The research team plans to take a step further by identifying factors related to neural circuits responsible for physical stimuli. This research is expected to provide a breakthrough in treating obesity and diabetes through appetite regulation.
This time, the project also gained significance by selecting two projects proposed by foreign researchers affiliated with domestic universities, supporting excellent researchers regardless of nationality. Professor Thomas Schulz of the Department of Chemistry at UNIST plans to reveal the composition and structure of interstellar matter, the material floating in the space between stars, using lasers. Interstellar matter has been known as an unknown area since scientist Johannes Hartmann first observed interstellar gas in 1904.
In the materials field, a total of 8 projects will be supported across a wide range of research areas, including next-generation light sources, battery materials, and bio-conjugation technologies that can contribute to strengthening industrial competitiveness. Professor Park Hong-gyu of the Department of Physics at Korea University is conducting research on light sources that generate photons (particles of light), which are fundamental to quantum cryptographic communication.
Professor Oh Seung-su of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at POSTECH is researching next-generation anticancer drug technologies using high-efficiency bio-conjugation technology based on molecular recognition. If the project is successfully carried out, it is expected to develop new drugs that have up to 1,000 times greater therapeutic effects than existing ones while significantly reducing side effects.
In the ICT field, a total of 6 projects were selected in future core technology research areas such as brain tumor treatment, next-generation imaging, and artificial intelligence. Professor Choi Young-bin of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Seoul National University is challenging the development of technology that can minimize side effects in brain tumor treatment. This research is expected to minimize not only post-surgical side effects but also damage to normal cells by enabling anticancer drug injection only into malignant cells while minimizing craniectomy.
Professor Kim Min-hyuk of the Department of Computer Science at KAIST is developing Non Line Of Sight imaging technology that can capture objects behind obstacles. Once the technology is completed, it is expected to be used in various fields such as life rescue during disasters and fires or medical imaging in surgical settings.
The Samsung Future Technology Development Project is a program in which Samsung Electronics has invested 1.5 trillion KRW over 10 years since 2013 to establish the Samsung Future Technology Development Foundation (basic science) and Samsung Electronics Future Technology Development Center (materials and ICT) to foster and support Korea's future science and technology. Every year, projects are selected in each field in the first and second halves of the year, and through the annual 'Designated Theme Project Contest,' future technology fields necessary for the nation are designated and supported.
Kim Sung-geun, Chairman of the Samsung Future Technology Development Foundation, said, "Recently, global academic journals have focused on Korea's active investment and achievements in research and development," adding, "The Samsung Future Technology Development Project, which discovers challenging ideas and talents that can change the world regardless of the field, is expected to contribute to this change."
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