'Advanced Innovation Equipment Alliance' Launched
Accelerating Localization of Essential Research Equipment for Companies in the AI Era
Industry, academia, and research institutes have begun efforts to establish a domestic advanced research equipment ecosystem necessary for the era of artificial intelligence (AI).
On July 2, more than 100 experts from industry, academia, and research gathered at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul for the launch ceremony of the 'Advanced Innovation Equipment Alliance,' where they discussed ways to realize the vision of becoming a leading nation in research equipment.
Participants at the launch ceremony of the 'Advanced Innovation Equipment Alliance' held in Seoul on the 2nd are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT
The Advanced Innovation Equipment Alliance has been taking shape since the beginning of this year, and preparations have been completed to officially launch operations with the establishment of the Advanced Innovation Equipment Technology Policy Center at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science.
The Advanced Innovation Equipment Alliance aims to establish and support a domestic ecosystem for advanced research equipment, which is essential for leading future strategic technology fields. The Alliance will play key roles such as: supporting the establishment of an 'Advanced Innovation Equipment Development and Dissemination Strategy (draft)' based on the actual needs of the research and industrial sectors; supporting the development of a 'mid- to long-term technology development roadmap for advanced innovation equipment' centered on each technical division; and building domestic and international ecosystems and global cooperation systems to accelerate the development and dissemination of innovative equipment.
The Alliance plans to focus support on three key areas?semiconductors and displays, secondary batteries, and advanced bio?to supply the equipment needed by companies.
There is also significant interest from companies. Executives such as Shim Gyuchan, Vice President of SK hynix; Son Younghoon, Master at Samsung Electronics; Park Chulhee, Executive Director of LG Energy Solution; and Lee Kyunghoon, Director of Celltrion, attended the event as members of the General Committee, lending their support to the Alliance.
In his congratulatory remarks, Lee Changyoon, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, explained, "Currently, more than half of our country's research equipment is dependent on overseas sources. This is not only an economic issue but also a critical challenge directly linked to technological sovereignty."
He emphasized, "It is difficult to achieve outstanding research results without good equipment," and presented several examples. One example was that the existence of cryo-electron microscopy technology enabled the development of a COVID-19 virus vaccine in less than a year. He also strongly emphasized that manufacturing and analysis/measurement equipment such as lithography, etching, deposition, and cleaning are essential in semiconductor processes at companies like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
Vice Minister Lee warned that research equipment could become subject to export controls and pose a threat to corporate activities during global supply chain instability, as well as carry risks of technology know-how or information leakage.
He highlighted the success story of Park Systems, which achieved the world’s top position in the field of atomic force microscopy (AFM), essential for companies involved in high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and stressed, "We can do it too," while promising active government support.
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