IITP's 10th Anniversary Dedicated to ICT R&D... "Contributing to the Top 3 Digital Powers"

10th Anniversary Ceremony Held
This Year's Budget 74% Digital R&D
"Achieving Results That Benefit People's Lives"

The Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation (IITP), which has supported research and development and talent cultivation in South Korea's information and communication technology (ICT) sector, has marked its 10th anniversary. It plans to strengthen innovation in digital and artificial intelligence (AI) fields to contribute to South Korea's leap as a digital G3 nation.

Hong Jin-bae, President of the Institute for Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation / Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

On the 4th, IITP held a 10th-anniversary ceremony at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul. The event, themed "Challenge Toward the Future of Digital Innovation," was attended by over 120 people from the Ministry of Science and ICT, ICT universities, companies, research institutes, and associations. Notable attendees included Ko Jin, Chairman of the Digital Platform Government Committee, Bang Seung-chan, President of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, and Noh Jun-hyung, Chairman of the Korea Information Broadcasting and Communications University Federation.

IITP is an institution that comprehensively supports ICT R&D and talent development. It has played a significant role in producing results in future core technology fields such as wired and wireless communication infrastructure, AI, and cybersecurity, as well as in nurturing talent and enhancing the global competitiveness of companies.

The event featured a video screening showcasing IITP's 10 years of activities and the 30-year history of ICT R&D, a vision declaration ceremony, and awards for contributors.

Hong Jin-bae, President of IITP, emphasized, "We will lead digital and AI innovation to create excellent outcomes that provide tangible benefits to society and the lives of the people."

He added, "Through a comprehensive reform of innovative and challenging digital R&D and the promotion of technology development and talent cultivation as the starting point of national digital policy, we will contribute to South Korea's leap as a digital G3 nation."

This year, IITP's total budget is 1.39 trillion KRW. Of this, the R&D budget is 1.0323 trillion KRW (74%), and the digital talent cultivation budget is 362.4 billion KRW (26%).

In the R&D sector, IITP aims to secure technologies for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and lightweight, low-power technologies, and to establish open research hubs in collaboration with advanced countries such as the United States.

To gain a lead in quantum technology, IITP will strengthen core capabilities such as quantum communication and quantum sensing, and acquire manufacturing know-how through open quantum fabs.

Support and ecosystem development will continue to be strengthened across the entire value chain, from next-generation communications like 6G low-earth orbit satellites and cybersecurity infrastructure technologies to service technologies such as media content spatial computing.

Regarding talent cultivation, IITP will focus on supporting AI graduate schools, ITRC, SW Maestro, and Innovation Academy to nurture core talents with top-level R&D capabilities in strategic technology fields such as AI.

Seventeen more software-centered universities that cultivate practical field-oriented talents will be added this year, and non-degree education linked to companies and participation will be strengthened to lead to employment after education.

The global budget will be significantly increased by 65% compared to the previous year, investing 86.4 billion KRW to strengthen cooperation with global partners.

President Hong expressed his ambition, saying, "We will lead IITP, the digital technology and talent powerhouse, to secure digital competitiveness in AI semiconductors, 5G·6G, cybersecurity, and stand at the center of the future of digital innovation."

Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, said, "We expect IITP to continue playing a pivotal role in advancing the digital R&D ecosystem and bringing about digital innovation across our economy and society."