Ministry of Science and ICT to Refine '12 National Strategic Technologies'... Advanced in September

[Financial News] The 12 national strategic technologies, including semiconductors, advanced bio, and artificial intelligence, will be advanced in September.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 29th that it would hold the first meeting after the formation of the second 'National Strategic Technology Special Committee' and refine the national strategic technology system by reflecting changes in the technology and security environment. National strategic technologies are based on the National Strategic Technology Promotion Act and currently include a total of 12 fields: semiconductors and displays, secondary batteries, mobility, next-generation nuclear power, advanced bio, aerospace and marine, hydrogen, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, next-generation communication, advanced robotics and manufacturing, and quantum.
First, they will review the addition of major technologies that are important from the perspective of supply chain, new industries, and diplomatic security, especially those that are crucial for the future technological competitiveness of the nation but have not been included as separate fields, as well as integration and adjustment plans between existing fields. In particular, they will consider technologies that will become the focus of supply chain competition in the coming years, such as future materials that need to be self-reliant, and future innovative technologies that require long-term investment and have a significant impact on related technologies, and will also consider strengthening convergence and connectivity between fields.
The process of analyzing national strategic technologies will fully reflect the opinions of private sector experts from industry, academia, and research, based on the strategic technology systems of major countries and technology trends and forecasts from global technology forecasting institutions. To this end, experts from the Science and Technology Advisory Council, technology-specific coordinators from the National Strategic Technology Special Committee, and science and technology experts and diplomatic security experts from organizations such as the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies and the Korean Academy of Science and Technology will participate extensively. Along with the 12 national strategic technologies, 50 key sub-technologies will also be adjusted to reflect the current state of technology hegemony competition.
The draft of the national strategic technology reorganization will be announced around the end of September at the 'National Strategic Technology Summit' after consultations with relevant ministries and deliberations by the National Strategic Technology Special Committee. For the confirmed technology fields, a new 'Mission-Centric Strategic Roadmap' will be established, containing national mission derivation and key technology identification, research and development investment, talent development, and technology commercialization ecosystem advancement plans, and large-scale projects will be promoted based on this to link to substantial outcome creation.
Kwang-Jun Ryu, Director of Science and Technology Innovation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "The government plans to focus its capabilities on the national strategic technology promotion policy to seek national innovation beyond the era of technology hegemony competition and low growth, and will thoroughly prepare the national top-tier technology acquisition plan by widely reflecting the opinions of private experts and the latest trends."
Meanwhile, the second committee of the Strategy Technology Special Committee, a joint public-private organization, includes field experts from key companies related to strategic technology fields such as SK Hynix (semiconductors), Hyundai Motor Company (advanced mobility, hydrogen), Hanwha Aerospace (aerospace), KT (artificial intelligence, next-generation communication), and LG Science Park (artificial intelligence, bio, secondary batteries), as well as 16 private experts in the fields of science and technology, diplomatic security, and innovation policy. Additionally, to strengthen connections with innovation policy across the board, including economy, security, and intellectual property rights in response to technology hegemony competition, the committee includes 9 government members (including the chairman) from economic ministries such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, security agencies such as the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and National Intelligence Service, and the Korean Intellectual Property Office for data-based strategy preparation, making a total of 25 members.

jiany@fnnews.com Reporter Ji-an Yeon