Government Initiates Full Revision of Advanced Technology Notification to Enhance Specificity of Products and Scope

Pointed Out: Lack of Sophistication in Some Listed Advanced Technologies
Growing Need to Reflect Latest Technological Changes

The government has begun full-scale discussions to completely revise the scope of advanced technologies and products.

On the 18th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a general committee meeting chaired by Je Gyeong-hee, Director of Industrial Technology Convergence Policy, together with experts from the industrial and energy sectors to comprehensively revise the "Scope of Advanced Technologies and Products (Ministry of Industry Notice)."

The general committee is composed of chairpersons of 35 subcommittees in fields such as semiconductors, automobiles, and robots, and plays a role in comprehensively reviewing and coordinating technologies by sector.

The Ministry of Industry selects and announces the scope of technologies and products to be intensively supported every 2 to 3 years, considering industry demand and technological ripple effects, with the goal of innovating Korea’s industry centered on advanced industries.

When companies apply to confirm whether the technologies they have developed or possess qualify as advanced technologies, the Ministry of Industry reviews them with expert advice and then issues a confirmation certificate. Companies that receive the certificate are provided benefits together with related ministries, including ▲protection as industrial technology under the Industrial Technology Protection Act ▲corporate tax reductions when entering research and development special zones ▲cash support for foreign investment ▲issuance of E7 visas for foreign personnel expected to work in advanced technology fields.

Currently, a total of 3,091 advanced technologies and products across 35 fields are designated, and due to increasing demand for technology protection, tax benefits, and financial support, the number of advanced technology confirmation applications has steadily increased from 168 cases in 2020 to 309 cases in 2024.

Industry and experts have pointed out that some technologies listed as advanced lack sophistication and that there is a need to reflect the latest technological changes. They also raised issues regarding the lack of specificity in technology names and descriptions, which reduces predictability for applying companies.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Industry plans to review 233 technologies received through a demand survey conducted with industry associations and organizations from September to October last year, to add new technologies and re-examine the existing technology list.

In addition, the Ministry will promote a comprehensive revision of the technology scope, including specifying names and specifications for applicable technologies. About 300 experts will first review the technologies, and based on this, opinions from related ministries will be gathered and public hearings held to finalize the revised technology scope within the first half of this year.

The policy director stated, "As the utilization of the advanced technology system has recently increased, we will not only update the technologies but also consider ways to strengthen linked support systems to meet field demands."