Ministry of Science and ICT and Ministry of the Interior and Safety
Launch New Projects Under "Emergency Response Research for Public Safety"
The government is set to launch new projects under the "Emergency Response Research for Public Safety" initiative, aimed at addressing urgent disaster and safety issues.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 28th that they have selected two projects: the development and demonstration of seawater desalination technology to address drought, and the development of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based collision prevention system for small fishing vessels. The ministries have begun inviting research institutions to apply for participation.
Obong Reservoir in Gangneung City, Gangwon Province, revealed its bottom due to drought. Photo by Yonhap News
The goal of the "Emergency Response Research for Public Safety" program is to quickly provide scientific and technological solutions to disaster and safety problems that are directly linked to people’s daily lives, and to apply these results in the field to minimize damage and prevent recurrence.
After surveying urgent research needs among central government agencies and local governments and conducting expert reviews, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety selected two projects with the highest level of social urgency.
The first project is the "Development and Demonstration of Seawater Desalination Technology for Drought Response." As seen in the recent severe drought in the Gangneung region, water shortages caused by climate change are becoming more serious, increasing the need for region-specific water resource management technologies.
This research will be carried out based on a proposal from Gangneung City. A pilot seawater desalination plant will be established and operated on-site to verify the efficiency of desalination and the effect of energy savings. Through this, the aim is to expand the use of desalination technology, previously used mainly in industrial settings, to residential water supply systems, providing a practical solution for regional drought response.
The second project is the "Development of an AI-Based Collision Prevention System for Small Fishing Vessels." Over the past five years, more than half of coastal fishing vessels in Korea have been captained by individuals aged 60 or older, and 57.4% of these vessels are over 16 years old. As a result, the number of small vessel collision accidents has been increasing annually, with more than half (54.2%) of casualties from such accidents occurring on small vessels.
54.2% of casualties from recent ship collision accidents occurred on small fishing vessels. The Asia Business Daily DB
In response, the government will develop a collision prediction and avoidance system that integrates sensors and AI technology, and will expedite field demonstrations and product certification. In addition to the mandatory use of life jackets and enhanced safety training, the government plans to establish a proactive, technology-based safety management system.
The call for research institution applications will run from the 28th until the 26th of next month. The selected institutions will receive a total of 900 million won in research and development funding over two years, jointly provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Detailed application guidelines are available on the website of the National Research Foundation of Korea.
Kim Seongsu, Director General for R&D Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "These projects aim to address issues that threaten public safety and daily life through science and technology. We will actively support the rapid application of research results in the field."
Hong Jongwan, Director General for Social Disaster at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, also commented, "To protect public safety, it is essential to develop technologies that reflect field needs. We will continue to expand research that responds swiftly to urgent issues in the disaster and safety sector."
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