The 6th Korea-ASEAN Excellent Science and Technology Innovation Awards Ceremony Held

Ministry of Science and ICT Strengthens Science and Technology Cooperation with ASEAN Countries

The Ministry of Science and ICT held the '6th Korea-ASEAN Excellent Science and Technology Innovation Awards' ceremony on the 25th to strengthen science and technology cooperation with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.

Ryu Gwang-jun, Director General of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, is taking a commemorative photo with the awardees at the '6th Korea-ASEAN Excellent Science and Technology Innovation Awards Ceremony' held on the morning of the 25th at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong Special Self-Governing City. From the left: Nguyen Le Tri Dang, researcher at Van Lang University, Vietnam; Ryu Gwang-jun, Director General of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT; Xinglong Zhang, research director at the Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research. Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT

The Korea-ASEAN Excellent Science and Technology Innovation Awards were established to discover emerging ASEAN researchers and strengthen the foundation for Korea-ASEAN science and technology cooperation. This year, the number of applicants nearly doubled compared to previous years. In the Pioneer category, Nguyen Le Tri Dang from Van Lang University in Vietnam, and in the Innovator category, Xinglong Zhang, principal investigator at Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), were awarded respectively.

Researcher Nguyen Le Tri Dang is an environmental engineer recognized for his research on electrochemical carbon dioxide conversion and waste recycling technologies. He has been continuously conducting joint research with Korea through partnership projects such as those with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). Principal investigator Xinglong Zhang is actively researching organic compound synthesis and precise reaction control technologies using metal catalysts and photocatalysts.

At the awards ceremony, Xinglong Zhang expressed his ambition, stating, "I will contribute to addressing climate change and sustainable technological innovation through collaboration with Korea’s leading research institutions such as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)."

Separately from the awards ceremony, the Ministry of Science and ICT will also hold the Korea-ASEAN Science and Technology Innovation Education and Training Program and the Korea-ASEAN Science and Technology Innovation Workshop.

Ryu Gwang-jun, head of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, emphasized, "As Korea and ASEAN have elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, I hope emerging researchers will discover innovative topics and strengthen joint research cooperation between both sides to contribute to regional shared prosperity and development."