Yoo Sang-im, Ministry of Science and ICT, On-site Inspection of 3 Major Game Changer Technologies

First Visit Site: AI Semiconductor Research Field at ETRI
Gathered Opinions in Meeting with Industry-Academia-Research Officials
Declared Commitment to Advanced Bio Support at Korea National Institute of Biological Resources

Minister Yoo Sang-im of the Ministry of Science and ICT conducted on-site inspections of the three major game-changing technologies: AI & semiconductors, advanced bio, and quantum fields. Minister Yoo expressed a strong commitment to fostering the AI semiconductor sector through government-led collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutes.

Minister Yoo Sang-im of the Ministry of Science and ICT is delivering a greeting at the 'AI-Semiconductor Initiative Securing Industry-Academia-Research Meeting' held on the morning of the 29th at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.

Attendees at the meeting included Do Chang-ho, Vice President of SK Hynix; Oh Jin-wook, CTO of Rebellion; Jung Young-beom, Director of FuriosaAI; Lim Wan-taek, Head of Conan Technology; Yoo Tae-jun, CEO of Maum AI; Choi Jae-sik, Professor at KAIST; and Lim Sung-hoon, Professor at DGIST. Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT

On the 29th, Minister Yoo chose the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), a research site in the AI & semiconductor field, as the first destination among the three game-changing technologies. At ETRI’s AI research site, Minister Yoo personally demonstrated representative AI technologies such as multinational voice recognition interpretation services and text-based image generation AI. He then listened to ETRI’s strategic plans for research and development (R&D) in the AI & semiconductor sector.

After the on-site inspection, Minister Yoo held a roundtable meeting with participants from industry, academia, and research institutes. Attendees from the industry included Do Chang-ho, Vice President of SK Hynix; Oh Jin-wook, CTO of Rebellion; Jung Young-beom, Director of FuriosaAI; Lim Wan-taek, Head of Conan Technology; and Yoo Tae-jun, CEO of Maum AI. From academia, Professor Choi Jae-sik of KAIST and Professor Lim Sung-hoon of DGIST participated.

During the roundtable, in-depth discussions were held on strategies to lead future AI and semiconductor technologies based on diverse field opinions from innovation stakeholders amid global technological hegemony competition.

Minister Yoo stated, “The world is currently experiencing a major transformation due to the AI revolution triggered by the emergence of generative AI, and simultaneous innovations are changing not only technological progress but also our lives and society as a whole.” He urged ETRI to achieve results through leading research and innovation related to technology commercialization.

Minister Yoo also emphasized, “The Ministry of Science and ICT, along with industry, academia, and research institutes, will work as one team to lead technology commercialization and continuously communicate with the field to foster an innovative ecosystem in the AI and semiconductor sectors.”

In the afternoon, Minister Yoo listened to voices from the advanced bio field. He visited the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), toured the National Biofoundry Beta Facility, and engaged in discussions with experts from industry, academia, and research institutes in the advanced bio sector.

The roundtable included Yang Young-ryeol, Director of the Daesang Materials Research Institute; Kim Jang-hwan, CSO of Regenerus; Kim Yong-sam, CEO of Jincore; Kim Hyung-chul, Executive Director of Curecell; Professor Cho Byung-kwan of KAIST’s Department of Biological Sciences; Professor Kim Yeon-su of Chungnam University Graduate School of New Drug Development; Professor Kim Gil-soo of Kyungpook National University College of Veterinary Medicine; Kim Jang-sung, President of KRIBB; Lee Seung-gu, Director of KRIBB’s Synthetic Biology Research Center; Jung Kyung-sook, Head of KRIBB’s Global TOP Gene and Cell Therapy Strategic Research Group; and Choi Young-gi, Director of the IBS Center for Virus Research.

Minister Yoo said, “Advanced bio is accelerating innovation not only in traditional life sciences and healthcare but also across all fields including energy, materials, food, and environment, becoming a key to solving humanity’s challenges.” He added, “Based on the advice of many experts, we will concentrate national capabilities to support the advanced bio sector, which will stand at the center of the national economy, security, and industry.”