Ministry of Science and ICT Establishes Dedicated Organization for Quantum Technology and Digital Platforms

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 30th that it has established the Quantum Technology Development Support Division and the Digital Platform Government Support Division to implement key national agenda items of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, such as fostering quantum technology and realizing a digital platform government.

These two divisions will operate directly under the minister using the “autonomous organization system,” which allows the head of the institution to autonomously establish and operate division-level organizations. Earlier, the Ministry of Science and ICT selected quantum technology as one of the 12 national strategic technologies in October and has been focusing on supporting quantum technology development through mission-oriented core technology development, training specialized personnel, and strengthening international cooperation. Until now, quantum technology promotion tasks, which were dispersed within the ministry across fields such as computing, communication, and sensors, will be integrated through the establishment of the new “Quantum Technology Development Support Division” to fully concentrate on fostering quantum technology at the national level. Specifically, the division will ▲ establish a quantum technology strategic roadmap and based on it ▲ plan and promote R&D and support projects across the entire quantum technology spectrum, and ▲ develop the necessary process infrastructure for quantum technology development. Additionally, it will ▲ prepare policy and institutional foundations such as enacting laws and operating the Quantum Technology Development Special Committee, and ▲ build public-private collaborative governance through establishing quantum academic societies and councils.

The Ministry of Science and ICT will also work hard to ensure the success of key national digital agenda items in line with the Digital Platform Government Committee, launched in September as a co-leading ministry for realizing the digital platform government.

The digital platform government refers to a government where all data is connected on a “digital platform,” enabling citizens, businesses, and the government to collaboratively solve social problems and create new value. The Digital Platform Government Support Division will carry out tasks under the Ministry of Science and ICT’s jurisdiction, including ▲ promoting citizen-experienced leading projects, ▲ designing and building infrastructure for establishing the digital platform government, and ▲ enacting and revising related laws and systems to innovate digital public services through public-private cooperation and foster an innovative ecosystem for the digital platform government.

Minister Lee Jong-ho stated, “Through the establishment of these divisions, we plan to actively and responsibly prepare strategic technologies and government systems that will lead the future, such as quantum technology and the digital platform government,” adding, “We will strive to efficiently operate the newly established organizations to implement science and technology and ICT policies that citizens can truly feel.”