Government Designates 'Semiconductors, AI, Aerospace' and More
Ministry of Science and ICT Also Develops Strategy to Secure Talent for Strategic Technology R&D
Twelve national strategic technologies, including semiconductors and advanced mobility, which will be responsible for the future of the Republic of Korea, along with 50 focused technologies, have been officially confirmed. A 'two-track' strategy was also presented to secure strategic technology R&D talent responsible for developing these technologies, by separately cultivating specialized research personnel for each national strategic technology and common research personnel applicable to multiple strategic technologies.
On the 20th, the government announced that it had reviewed and approved the 'National Strategic Technology Selection Plan,' officially confirming it. The 12 national strategic technologies are ▲Semiconductors & Displays ▲Secondary Batteries ▲Advanced Mobility ▲Next-Generation Nuclear Power ▲Advanced Bio ▲Aerospace & Marine ▲Hydrogen ▲Cybersecurity ▲Artificial Intelligence (AI) ▲Next-Generation Communications ▲Advanced Robotics ▲Quantum. The 50 focused technologies, including AI semiconductors and synthetic biology, and their detailed definitions were also specified. The selected national strategic technologies will be finalized by the Minister of Science and ICT's official notice.
Measures to support human resources for technology acquisition were also prepared. The 'National Strategic Technology Talent Acquisition Strategy' confirmed on this day sought to differentiate itself from the existing cross-ministerial talent policies, which segmented talent cultivation by ministry-specific technology fields without considering job roles and occupations.
Specialized R&D talent will utilize specialized research institutes established at universities or government-funded research institutes, while common R&D talent will be supported through separately designated specialized educational institutions. Joint large-scale research institutes co-invested by government-funded research institutes and universities are also being considered.
Based on data, an integrated information analysis system to identify R&D talent will also be established to discover gaps in technology and talent by comparing domestic and strategic technology researchers' research trends. Employment information of 510,000 R&D project participants registered in the National Researcher Information System will be analyzed, and a new 'K-Starship' (tentative name) program will be operated to support overseas training. Next year, 10 billion KRW will be invested to build a joint platform supporting joint research, personnel exchange, and commercialization with overseas strategic technology research institutions.
There is also ongoing consideration to expand the 'Fast Track for Permanent Residency and Naturalization of Outstanding Science and Technology Talent,' which allows foreign talents who have obtained master's or doctoral degrees domestically to easily acquire permanent residency or nationality, from the four major science and technology institutes to major domestic universities.
Joo Young-chang, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, stated, "Securing ultra-gap strategic technologies is not just about economic growth but is core to national survival," adding, "Through innovative and challenging R&D aiming for world-class excellence, we will rise as a nation leading strategic technologies."
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