Choi Acting Chief: "We Will Open the Era of 30 Trillion Won Government R&D... Expanding Investment in AI, Bio, and Quantum '3 Major Changers'"

Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, promised the prompt execution of this year's research and development (R&D) budget and emphasized that he would "open the era of 'Government R&D 30 trillion won'."

Choe Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Economy and Finance, is delivering an encouragement speech at the New Year's Meeting of Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting, and Communications Personnel held on the 21st at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

At the 'New Year's Meeting of Science, Technology, and Information and Communication Personnel' held on the 21st at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Seoul, Acting Prime Minister Choi stated in his encouragement speech, "We will boldly expand investments in the three major game-changer fields: artificial intelligence (AI), bio, and quantum, as well as other core sectors."

He continued, "Following the enactment of the 'AI Basic Act,' the second of its kind in the world, we will significantly expand AI computing infrastructure, secure key personnel and technologies, and make every effort to leap forward as one of the top three AI powers."

The government-wide promotion system for the three major game-changer fields mentioned will also be fully activated. Following the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Committee last year, the National Bio Committee is scheduled to officially launch on the 23rd. Acting Prime Minister Choi said, "We will also promptly hold the Quantum Strategy Committee and make it a core engine of growth."

Regarding the government R&D system, he announced, "We will create a 1 trillion won-scale Science and Technology Innovation Fund to expand investments in domestic strategic technology companies and implement a research living allowance to guarantee stable research funding for graduate students in science and engineering."

About 500 people from academia, business, associations, and organizations related to science, technology, and information and communication attended the event.