Ministry of Science and ICT Strengthens 5G and AI Cooperation with Australia and New Zealand

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgi Na] On the 5th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it held the 10th Korea-Australia-New Zealand (KANZ) Information and Communication Consultative Body meeting via video conference at the HJ Business Center in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, together with the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

As the chief representative from Korea, Jeong Hee-gwon, International Cooperation Officer of the Ministry of Science and ICT, attended, while from Australia and New Zealand, respectively, Narelli Lucetti, Director of the Digital Economy and Technology Policy Bureau of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER), and Robin Henderson, Director of the Economic Development Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), participated. The KANZ Information and Communication Consultative Body meetings began as an event between Korea and Australia in 2003 and developed into a trilateral meeting from 2005.

At this 10th meeting, attended by about 20 ICT and policy officials, each country’s policy directions on core technologies and systems such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, and regulatory sandbox, which will drive the 4th Industrial Revolution, were discussed.

Specifically, policy issues such as the 5G+ promotion strategy including fostering new industries based on 5G, leading public sector investments and expanding private investments to activate the private-led market, and the national AI strategy were shared. The ICT regulatory sandbox system, research results on digital transformation predicting future changes and assessing impacts on jobs in finance and logistics industries, and startup support for businesses by growth stage and sector were also addressed. Furthermore, the three countries agreed to actively cooperate on future issues in the information and communication field.

Jeong Hee-gwon, International Cooperation Officer, stated, “The benefits of productivity increases using new technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, regulatory innovation, and startup support activation will create new opportunities, enhance public welfare, and significantly strengthen corporate capabilities,” and proposed strengthening trilateral cooperation in AI, regulatory innovation, and joint responses to venture startup support.