Investing 977.8 Billion Won This Year, a 7% Increase Compared to Last Year
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Following Japan's semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang) export restrictions, the government's investment scale in nanotechnology projects has surged over the past two years, approaching the 1 trillion won mark this year.
According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Presidential Advisory Council on National Science and Technology held an operations committee meeting on the afternoon of the 18th to review and approve this year's nanotechnology development implementation plan, which includes such investment plans. According to the plan, the government intends to invest a total of 977.8 billion won in nanotechnology projects this year. This represents a 7% (61.5 billion won) increase compared to last year's 916.3 billion won. Previously, after the issue of technological independence in SoBuJang with Japan arose in July 2019, the government dramatically increased investment in nanotechnology projects closely related to this matter.
Last year's nanotechnology project investment budget was 916.3 billion won, a sharp increase of 216.9 billion won from the previous year's 699.4 billion won. As a result, research outcomes also improved, with 9,815 SCI-level papers published (4th worldwide) and 1,143 patents registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (3rd worldwide). The number of research personnel also increased by 8% year-on-year to 12,989.
Among this year's investment plans, the increase in creative basic research investment from 220 billion won last year to 271.8 billion won this year, an increase of 51.8 billion won, stands out. Additionally, 34 Future Technology Research Labs for securing future source technologies and 25 National Core Material Research Groups related to 185 key items will be newly selected and supported. The development of process analysis and measurement analysis platforms for efficient utilization of material data will also be actively promoted.
Key strategies also include continuous promotion of industrialization research and development (R&D) in promising new industry fields and commercialization programs, support for advanced university nanofab facilities, full-scale operation of the 12-inch semiconductor testbed at the Nano Comprehensive Technology Institute, as well as human resource development, international cooperation, and safety evaluation technology development.
At the meeting, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's '7th Industrial Technology Innovation Plan' implementation plan for this year was also approved. Major contents include the second phase of the Alchemist Project pilot business and mid- to long-term technology non-designated challenge innovation R&D projects. The implementation plan for this year of the 2nd Comprehensive Plan for Science and Technology-Based Social Problem Solving was also finalized.
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