Global R&D Center Opens... International Cooperation R&D Expanded from 3% to 15%

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] A plan is being promoted to expand international cooperative research and development (R&D), which currently stands at only 2-3%, to 15% by 2023. To this end, a 'hotline' dedicated to technological cooperation with major overseas engineering colleges and research institutions has been established.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held an opening ceremony for the 'Global Research and Development (R&D) Support Center' on the 23rd at the Seoul Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Global R&D Support Center, established within the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, serves as a dedicated window to enable overseas researchers to easily participate in all processes from receiving technology cooperation demands from abroad to domestic R&D project formation. It directly receives and discovers technology cooperation demands from overseas institutions, matches domestic and foreign research institutions, and systematically supports the entire global R&D process by linking them to R&D projects.

As a follow-up measure to the 'Industrial R&D Innovation Plan' announced in September last year, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy decided to significantly expand international cooperative R&D, currently at 2-3%, to 15% by 2023 and discussed specific plans on this day.

First, through the Global R&D Support Center, it will strengthen overseas institutions' accessibility to domestic R&D by distributing English-language guidance materials on R&D project contents, major regulations, participation procedures, etc., targeting overseas researchers. In addition, based on the technology cooperation demands of overseas institutions, newly discovered technology development demands will be prioritized as designated international cooperative projects for the following year, improving the project planning system. Furthermore, to promote the introduction of overseas technology, up to 50% of project funds will be allowed for technology introduction costs, and private sector contributions and royalties will be eased when overseas institutions participate in projects.

At the technology cooperation forum held in conjunction with the opening ceremony, Arind Day, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Washington in the United States, who attended online, pointed out that Korea lacks global-level R&D promotion and that the application procedures are difficult. He also urged that the Global R&D Support Center play a role in bridging the gap with overseas researchers.

Jang Youngjin, Director of Industrial Innovation Growth at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, "In the midst of massive industrial environmental changes, Korea's independent R&D method, with low joint research with overseas, has limitations in responding to the future," and added, "We expect domestic R&D to become 'open innovation' through the Global R&D Support Center."