"From Next Year, a National Commemorative Day"... 'Festival for Technology Developers' Day

Ministry of Science and ICT and Korea Industrial Technology Association Hold 4th Technology Developers' Day
'Corporate Research Institute Act' to Designate National Commemorative Day Starting Next Year

Koo Ja-kyun, Chairman of the Korea Industrial Technology Association, is delivering a welcoming speech at the '4th Technology Developers' Day Ceremony' held on October 24, 2025, at the Fairmont Ambassador Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

The 'Technology Developers' Day' ceremony, a festival for private sector research and development professionals, was held with great success at the Fairmont Ambassador Hotel in Seoul on October 24. The event was filled with a celebratory atmosphere, marking the official designation of 'Technology Developers' Day' as a national commemorative day, which will coincide with the implementation of the 'Corporate Research Institute Act' in February next year.

Hosted by the Korea Industrial Technology Association and sponsored by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the event was attended by about 300 people, including Gu Ja-kyun, Chairman of the Korea Industrial Technology Association, Lim Yo-up, Director of Science and Technology Innovation Coordination at the Ministry of Science and ICT, government officials, business leaders, and technology developers.

Twenty-one technology developers, including Kim Kyungmin, CEO of CP System, who succeeded in the world's first injection molding of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material, and five companies, including Dilli, which developed Korea's first eco-friendly digital UV inkjet printer, received the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Awards.

At the 'Outstanding Researcher Award' ceremony, established last year by the Korea Industrial Technology Association to honor researchers who contributed to enhancing national technological competitiveness and resolving regional imbalances, 15 individuals, including Gil Hyosik, Project Manager at SK Innovation, were recognized for their achievements.

Koo Ja-kyun, Chairman of the Korea Industrial Technology Association, and Lim Yo-up, Director of Science and Technology Innovation Coordination at the Ministry of Science and ICT, are taking a commemorative photo with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Award recipients and the Korea Industrial Technology Association Excellent Researcher Award recipients at the '4th Technology Developers Day Ceremony' held on October 24 at the Fairmont Ambassador Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. 2025.10.24 Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The 'Corporate Research Institute Act' is the first independent law dedicated to corporate research institutes, integrating various corporate R&D support regulations that were previously scattered across multiple statutes. The law designates 'Technology Developers' Day' as a national commemorative day to reward contributors to corporate research and development activities and to boost the morale of researchers. Accordingly, starting next year, the commemorative day will be moved from October 24 to September 7, marking the milestone of surpassing 10,000 in-house research institutes established by private companies in Korea. Lee Hyunsoon, Chairman of Chung-Ang University and an engineer who led the localization of automobile engines, also emphasized, "Congratulations on 'Technology Developers' Day' becoming a national commemorative day."

An Byungkwon, CEO of Jungyang SG, said in his acceptance speech, "We have continuously pursued change and relentless research efforts to create the highest value. I hope for active policy support so that talented technology developers can fully demonstrate their capabilities."

Gu Ja-kyun, Chairman of the Korea Industrial Technology Association, stated, "As the world is rapidly changing due to advanced technological revolutions such as AI, technology developers are the very heart that drives Korea forward. In celebration of the designation of 'Technology Developers' Day' as a national commemorative day, the association will support technology developers together with the public and strive to create an environment where they can devote themselves to research."